Written Critique of Group Project Seven:

Rebecca Pratiti
Group Number: 4
Email Address: prebecca0155@gmail.com

Name of the Group Project:
Prescription Opioid Misuse (POM) among Rural U.S. Adolescents
Group Number: 7

Summary of the Problem: The problem being addressed is the Prescription Opioid Misuse (POM) among U.S. adolescents in rural areas and its association with the risk of heroin use, overdose and deaths. 1-3 Additional indirect indicators affected by POM are emergency department visits and hospital admissions for opioid use and overdose.4,5
Main Argument: The committee’s main argument is that by implementing evidence based school education program there would be a significant decrease in the prevalence …show more content…
The conceptual framework was evidence based. The strengths of the framework were most of the key determinants were shown in the table with their association with each other. Weakness is the framework looks complicated and difficult to follow. Stakeholders were appropriately identified. The committee discussed briefly about the strategies there are already in place and how some of the new strategies could build on the existing ones. The strategies were developed to address all the three key determinants. The school and community based education and prevention targeting the biological and social norm support the key determinants. The adolescents and their parents were one of the major stakeholders and the intervention being active required adolescent participation. The interventions were appropriately stratified and criteria for choosing strategy number one is justified. As per the decision matrix the ethical acceptability had been stated high which would have been appropriate if the program would have been voluntary. But if the program is mandatory for the schools, there is a component of burden of freedom which could make the ethical acceptability of the intervention medium. The schools would have to reallocate funds, resources, educators/teachers depending on school’s capabilities and ease of being able to …show more content…
Since LST is a program already in place, broadening it to other schools is good.
Alternative interpretations of data: I agree with the interpretation and the assessments described in the report. POM, heroin related overdose and deaths are a growing problem among the adolescents. The factors influencing this problem are biologic, social and access to medications. Adolescents are faced with peer pressure and decision making in the setting of ambiguity. A life skill training on how to approach life problems would be beneficial in short and long term.
Strengths and weaknesses: the strength of the report is its flow, the Committee seem to be telling a compelling story and making their point. The formatting and referencing is good except for two references. Some weaknesses are not evaluating in detail key stakeholders such as adolescents and their parents and funding for the