Medical Marijuana and Student Life Student Health Services

So marijuana is now legal in the state of Ohio….what does that mean for me as a student here at The Ohio State University?

Can I get marijuana prescribed by a provider at the Student Life Student Health Center (SLSHS)?

I haven’t heard of anyone who has been prescribed medical marijuana yet.

As of September 8, state licensure, registration, and certification are required for Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program. Ohio law requires the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program to be fully operational by this date.

 

Can I get a prescription from any doctor?

“The federal government prohibits doctors from being able to prescribe marijuana. Instead, patients must have a recommendation from a certified physician. Physicians interested in recommending the use of medical marijuana for patients must apply for a certificate to recommend from the State Medical Board of Ohio.” The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program

Many students will not qualify by age alone, as one must be at least 21 years old.

Physicians at the Wilce Student Health Center will not be certified. They will not be prescribing medical marijuana. That being said, it is very important that patients always disclose all supplements or other medications they are prescribed when seeking medical care. Be sure to let your SLSHS provider know if you are taking medical marijuana (or using recreational marijuana).

 

What kind of medical problems can be treated with marijuana?

The State of Ohio Medical Board has a defined list of medical diagnoses that qualify for treatment with medical marijuana.

The most common use is for pain control, especially nerve pain. Medical marijuana can also be helpful with certain types of nausea, muscle spasticity (as with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease), and glaucoma.

There are some initial studies that indicate marijuana may have a place in treating post traumatic stress disorder.

 

Keep in mind…

Marijuana is still illegal per federal law. The Federal Drug Free Schools and Community Act of 1989 prohibits the use of drugs (including marijuana) on campus if the school is receiving any federal funds.

We are in need of more medical research in the benefits and side effects/complications of marijuana use.

Just like with alcohol, one should not drive while using marijuana (medical or recreational).

The smoke from marijuana has toxic chemicals just like tobacco smoking.

In a student population already struggling with anxiety, depression and attention deficit disorders, the use of marijuana is likely to compound the issues. There is also increased risk of psychosis and impairments in learning, perception and judgement.

Kathryn McKee, M.D.

My BuckMD data protected by BuckeyePass – Effective Wednesday, January 3

Cybercriminals’ top priority is a real-life payout. For Ohio State student systems, that means criminals may target your personal health information (PHI). If criminals get your user name and crack your password, they may be able to view your PHI and share information about you that you would prefer not to have shared.

If you have more than one step to log in – more than just your user name and password – your risk is reduced significantly. That’s why we’re adding a multifactor authentication tool called BuckeyePass (link is external) as an extra layer of security for student systems. Extra security protects your personal information stored in My BuckMD.

How does BuckeyePass affect me?

  • BuckeyePass (link is external) will be added to My BuckMD on Wednesday, January 3.
  • BuckeyePass (link is external) requires not only a password and username, but also a second method of authentication that you control. We recommend that you sign up as soon as possible and enroll multiple devices so you have a backup in case your primary device is stolen, broken or unavailable for any reason.

What do I need to do?

The first step is to enroll in BuckeyePass (link is external).  We have found the tool to be reliable and easy to use. We’ve posted a video (link is external) so you can see what the process looks like and how it works.

 

Information above summarized from:  https://odee.osu.edu/news/2017/11/01/students-should-sign-buckeyepass-november-5

Medication Disposal Day – Don’t rush to flush!

The Student Health Services Pharmacy will be holding our 6th annual DEA-approved Medication Disposal Day Thursday, October 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

All students, staff, and faculty are invited to bring unused or expired medicines to be disposed of in a safe, legal, and environmentally-friendly way.  This service is entirely free of charge and is completely anonymous.  No questions asked!  We will take any expired, damaged or unused medications (even if they are a controlled substance like narcotic pain medication or ADD medication).

Please note: Do not remove medication labels before drop-off.  Syringes, needles, and thermometers will not be accepted.

Our goal is to address a vital public safety and public health issue by removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs from your backpacks and medicine cabinets.

  • Since 2007, more Ohians have died from unintentional drug overdosing than motor vehicle accidents.
  • More than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
  • Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs for the first time to get high, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
  • Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

These expired medicines can be as bad for our environment as they are for our health.  Measurable quantities of some common medications are showing up in lakes, reservoirs, and municipal water supplies, thought to be due in large part to improper flushing of medications down sinks and toilets.

So make the right choice and join us for our 5th Annual Medication Disposal Day!  It’s a great way to keep yourself healthy and our campus safe!

This event is jointly sponsored by Student Health Services (Office of Student Life), Department of Public Safety, and Generation Rx.

Candace Haugtvedt, RPh, PhD
Student Health Services
The Ohio State University

Are you really prepared to an Ohio State Student?

Next week you’ll be moving into the dorm or perhaps off-campus housing.  Let’s see if you prepared?

  • Schedule of classes – check!
  • Books purchased – check!
  • Map of campus – check!
  • Coordinated dorm furniture with roommate – check!
  • Purchased bedding, etc. – check!
  • Internet connection – check!
  • Plan for what to do when you get sick ???  Huh??

My guess is you ( or your parents) have been making lists of all that needs to be done, purchased, packed, etc. before you move onto campus.  That is a good thing – but have you considered what you will do if – mostly likely – when you get sick. I know, I know.  You never get sick.  But up till now you’ve been living in a fairly controlled environment.  But,  you are about to move into a living situation where the front door itself is shared with several thousand other people.  People who may or may not be quite as diligent as you at washing their hands.  And then there’s the classrooms, cafeterias, and RPAC.  That is a serious amount of door handle touching and a serious amount of germ sharing.  The odds that you will remain the person “who never gets sick” is, well pretty slim.

So, what can you to do to prepare just in case you do get sick?

  • Make sure you have the necessary information.  Any medical facility you visit will require the following items so make sure you have them with you when you come to campus AND make sure you know where you put them so you can easily access them should you get sick.
    • Medical history of both yourself and your family, here’s a link to the form we use here at Student Life Student Health Services https://shs.osu.edu/forms1/appointments/
    • Insurance card, if it’s a copy make sure it includes both the front and back
  • Know the locations of medical facilities within easy reach of your dorm/housing
    • Student Life Student Health Services is located in the middle of campus, between the Thompson Library and the RPAC.  We are here just for students so this is a great location to know, but we are only open 8am – 6pm weekdays (Fridays 8am – 5pm).  What if you get sick outside of our business hours?  You can find a list of after hour care facilities on our website https://shs.osu.edu/.

 

 

 

Pride

Student Life Student Health Services at the Wilce Student Health Center has long been an ally of the LGBTQ community and at this time following the tragic events in Orlando, we continue to stand with the community and all human beings who value life and love. We mourn those who have lost their lives and continue to work towards an inclusive and accepting world for all.

Wilce is a facility that all students should feel welcome, safe and cared for in the best possible way. We offer comprehensive primary care services and can facilitate specialty care when indicated.  We offer the full spectrum of testing for sexually transmitted infections and we are here for questions and advice about this and other healthcare needs.

With the healthcare reforms of 2010, access and coverage for many groups previously denied care has significantly improved which includes the transgender community. We at Student Health are pleased to offer services to transgender patients not only for general primary care but also hormonal therapy for those interested in making that transition.  We strive to make everyone feel comfortable, including addressing you by your preferred name and using preferred pronouns.  Confidentiality is always a priority.  Several Student Health physicians recently attended conferences on transgender healthcare and we are working towards a focused, evidence-based pathway for providing treatment, and for following those students in a safe and healthy way.  We will discuss the risks and benefits of hormonal therapy, the typical schedule of visits and monitoring lab tests as well as what one can and cannot expect from the therapy.  We work closely with Counseling and Consultation Services and would like anyone considering transition to be working with a counselor since this is such a significant step forward in your well-being.  Please call our appointments line at (614)292-4321 to discuss your particular needs with one of our appointments staff and schedule your visit with an appropriate provider.

We wish the Columbus LGBTQ community an uplifting Pride Week and Month.

 

Dr. Ryan Hanson, MD

 

Ebola: Message from STEVEN GABBE, MD and ANDREW THOMAS, MD

October 16, 2014

Dear Students and Colleagues:

In light of the news that a Dallas nurse who has tested positive for Ebola was in Ohio from October 10-13, we want to share some information with the university community about this situation.

We can assure you that you are at no risk of contracting Ebola if you have not had direct contact with a person with active symptoms of the disease. Direct contact would include exposure to an infected person’s body fluids or providing care to an individual with active symptoms. Simply shaking hands with an individual is considered a very low risk contact. Being in the near vicinity of another individual or passing an individual in the street is considered of no risk.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Student Life’s Student Health Center continue to be at a high level of preparedness for any potential case of Ebola Viral Disease (EVD). We continue to be in close contact with Columbus Public Health, the Ohio Department of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other hospitals across the state to aggressively monitor all developments in this situation. We are focused on reducing the risk of exposure as well as rapidly implementing protocols for providing care in our medical facilities or responding to public health concerns across campus. We are confident that we are prepared to care for a potential Ebola patient and plan to do so in the safest environment possible.

The CDC’s recommendation is to seek medical care immediately:

If you have traveled to the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone or if you have been in direct contact with a person with active EVD,

AND, if you develop a fever (temperature of 100.4 degrees F/38.0 degrees C or higher) and any of the other following symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, muscle pain, or unexplained bruising or bleeding.

If you meet these criteria for both known exposure AND symptoms, you should limit your contact with other people until you seek medical treatment. Do not travel anywhere besides a healthcare facility.

We will share additional information about the university’s preparedness procedures and additional resources. Until then, more information about Ebola can be found at the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/.

As always, the health and safety of all of our students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors and the community is our priority.
Steven G. Gabbe, MD
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, The Ohio State University
CEO, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Andrew Thomas, MD
Senior Associate Vice President for Health Sciences, The Ohio State University
Chief Medical Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Help! I found a tick on me! Am I going to get Lyme Disease?

deer tick versus dog tick

I have an indoor-outdoor dog. Well, he seems to think he’s an indoor dog who should have full run of the house and that the couch is his own personal domain. We beg to differ on that point…. Anyway, when taking him for walks he likes to put his nose to the ground and check out everything which means he is often walking through tall grass. And yes, along the way he is likely to pick up a tick or two. We’ve found a couple on both him and unfortunately also in the house. My husband, who also thinks the cough is his own personal domain, has found a couple of ticks on himself. (Now, he’s trying to sit in my tick-free chair – but that’s not going to happen!)

Anyway, that got me to wondering about Lyme disease. What should you do if you’ve been bit by a tick?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that Lyme disease is spread through the bite of infected ticks. In Ohio, this is through the blacklegged tick more commonly known as a deer tick. Deer ticks are tiny. An adult tick is about the size of a sesame seed, while an immature tick is closer to a poppy seed and very difficult to see. These immature ticks are the ones most likely to transmit the disease as they are difficult to see. Dog ticks, the ones we’ve had in our house, do not transmit Lyme disease (In the image on the right, the top row shows a deer tick from nymph stage to one that is engorged, while the bottom row shows a dog tick.)
Ticks can attach to any part of the body, but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. A tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before the disease is transmitted.

If you find a tick on yourself, after you have finished panicking, get a pair of tweezers. Grasp the tick as close the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure until you have removed the tick. Thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, iodine, or soap and water.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease include:

  • Red, expanding rash called erythema migrams (EM), kind of looks like a bulls-eye
  • Fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes

If you had a tick bite, live in an area known for Lyme Disease, or have recently travelled to such an area and you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention! Make sure you tell your doctor that you have had a recent tick bite. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics which should allow you to recover rapidly and completely.

Submitted by Tina Comston, M.Ed.

Do you belong to Generation Rx?

Are you concerned about the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs?  Are you trying to educate those around you to its dangers?  Are you concerned about the “other freshman 15”?  Then you may be part of Generation Rx.

Generation Rx began at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in 2007 in response to the rapid increase in accidental drug overdose deaths in Ohio.  Its purpose is to combat the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs through educational prevention.  One such component – the “other freshman 15”.  Fifteen facts about prescription drug abuse:

  1. Prescription medications are among the most abused substances in the US.
  2. The average age when prescription drug abuse starts is 21.
  3. Non-medical use of prescription drugs by college students has doubled since 1990.
  4. About half of all college students will have the opportunity to abuse a prescription drug by their sophomore year.
  5. A growing campus culture of self-diagnosis and self-prescribing has the potential to cause negative health effects and lead to the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
  6. Abusing prescription medications is not a safe alternative to using illicit “street” drugs.
  7. Using medications like Vicodin, Adderall, or Xanax that aren’t prescribed for you is against federal and state laws.
  8. Emergency department visits relating to prescription drug abuse now exceed those relating to illicit “street” drugs.
  9. Some prescription medications can be addicting.
  10. Unintentional drug overdose is leading the cause of accidental death in the US.
  11. Most people who abuse prescription medications get them from family members or friends.
  12. It is critical that we store prescription medications securely and properly dispose of them when they are no longer needed to prevent misuse or abuse by others.
  13. It is important to only use prescription medications as prescribed by a healthcare professional.
  14. When you share your prescription medications with others, you could be liable if that person is harmed.
  15. Prescription drugs can help us live longer and healthier lives – but only if they are used properly and under medical supervision.

Take some time and view the Interact play on prescription drug abuse.

If you have prescription medications that you no longer need or that have expired, bring them to the Wilce Student Health Center Pharmacy on April 17, 2014 8am – 2pm for safe disposal.  No cost, no questions.

Learn more about Generation Rx at http://drupalmod.pharmacy.ohio-state.edu/outreach/generation-rx-initiative.

Submitted by Candace Haugtvedt, R.Ph., Ph.D.

Reviewed by Tina Comston, M.Ed.

Melanoma – Some Advice from Family Nurse Practioner Students

Protect your skin from the sun

ABCD pattern:  A - Asymmetrical

ABCD pattern:  B - Irregular Borders

ABCD pattern:  C - multi-colored

ABCD pattern:  D - diameter

Ohio State Family Nurse Practitioner Students Promote Melanoma Awareness:

According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. If diagnosed and treated early, skin cancer is very curable. Unfortunately, if skin cancer is not diagnosed until later stages, it can result in disfigurement and even death. Each year over 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanomas of the skin.  Please be aware of the amount of sun exposure you receive this year. You can help prevent skin cancer and still have fun in the sun outdoors by protecting your skin. Protection includes seeking shade, applying sunscreen, and wearing protecting clothing, hat and sunglasses. Remember the amount of sun exposure you get in your youth directly impacts your risk for skin cancer later in life.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you perform a full body skin exam on yourself once a month and that you have one done by your doctor/dermatologist once a year. Schedule an appointment with your doctor/dermatologist if you notice any mole or skin changes following the ABCD pattern of melanoma.

For additional information, please visit http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/early-detection/step-by-step-self-examination

Submitted by Ohio State Family Nurse Practitioner Students:  Jennifer Ashton, Shannon Brown, Christopher Daughtery, and Amanda Warner

Help us spread the word, like our Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/melanomaeducationandawareness

Reviewed by Tina Comston, M.Ed.

Photo Credit: www.skincancer.org