JOHNSON CITY (December 6, 2012) – Dr. Sarah T. Melton, an associate professor of Pharmacy Practice at East Tennessee State University’s Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, was invited to appear on a radio talk show to discuss the importance of controlling prescription drug abuse and the steps ETSU pharmacy students are taking to educate the community about the problem.

Melton appeared on the show “Prescription Addiction Radio,” which devotes its programming to information and discussion about the nation’s rising problem of prescription drug addiction. The show is hosted by a Florida pharmacist, Dr. Larry Goldbom, and it is broadcast on radio stations in Florida and is available on the Internet.

The show asked Melton to be an expert speaker after taking note of her work in the areas of prescription drug abuse, as well as the Gatton College of Pharmacy’s student outreach efforts through the Generation Rx Initiative.

Working in collaboration with Melton and other faculty members at the Gatton College of Pharmacy, ETSU pharmacy students in Generation Rx have delivered over 10 presentations this year to schools and community groups throughout the region.

“‘Prescription Addiction Radio’” promotes discussion about a serious issue, and it’s a discussion that we need to have,” Melton said. “If we think there’s a potential problem with prescription drug addiction, there should be communication between the pharmacist and the prescriber. One of Larry Goldbom’s concerns is that there are many pharmacy curriculums that have nothing about addiction and substance abuse, but that’s very much part of our curricula at ETSU.”

In addition to her teaching duties at the Gatton College of Pharmacy, Melton has an active career in clinical pharmacy, with board certifications in psychiatric, ambulatory care and geriatric pharmacy practice. She works with an interdisciplinary team that treats patients with substance abuse at Highpower, PC, in Lebanon, Va., and serves as a clinical pharmacist at ETSU’s Johnson City Community Health Center. Melton has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals on her prescription drug abuse research and presented her findings at national conferences.

The show that features Melton can be found at http://www.prescriptionaddictionradio.com. Click on the Dec. 4 show link; Melton’s interview begins at the 32-minute, 15-second mark and lasts for 25 minutes.

More information about the Generation Rx Initiative at ETSU can be found at http://gattoncopgenerationrx.weebly.com.