Third-year Pharmacy Student Attends Week at University of Utah

Ashlyn Davies attends University of Utah School of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies

by Stephen Vodhanel, PhD

Pharmacy student Ashlyn Davies just returned from a week-long summer seminar with the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies. Davies studied about the pathophysiology of addiction, the current worldwide and national trends in illicit and prescription drug abuse, as well as approaches to pain management for addicts.

"During the seminar I had the chance to attend 12-step recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon (recovery from someone else's drinking troubles), and the Pharmacist Recovery Network (PRN) that help pharmacist with various addiction problems. Each group session was deeply touching. I could see the real trouble and real pain of people with addictions as well as the co-dependency issues that addiction lays upon family members and loved ones of addicts," said Ms. Davies.

According to their website, the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies is recognized internationally, and has continually expended its scope to keep pace with increased awareness of the health and social problems of alcoholism and other drug dependencies. Specialized information is given for working effectively with substance abuse problems in various professional disciplines and ethnic groups. For more information, please visit http://medicine.utah.edu/uas/Introduction.htm.

And, of course, Ms. Davies saved a little of her time to visit the scenic sights of the great Wasatch Range, the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains.

Ashlyn Davies up in the Wasatch Range high above Salt Lake City.