Exploring Gabapentin Misuse and Prevention
This three-part virtual series on Gabapentin misuse took place from
August – September 2025. The three presenters brought diverse
expertise, including law enforcement, clinical practice, and substance use research, to offer a well-rounded understanding of national and state trends, missue risks, and practical community-level prevention strategies aligned with the series’ learning objectives.
Part 1: Overview of Gabapentin Misuse and Importance of Prevention in the United States
Objectives:
1. Introduce gabapentin usage and trends in the United States.
2. Define gabapentin misuse potential and associated harms.
3. Summarize state-level actions to address gabapentin misuse.
4. Identify reasons for prevention of gabapentin misuse in the United States.
Presenter: Katherine Gora Combs, MPH, is a doctoral candidate in the Department of
Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Gillings School of Global Public
Health and a research assistant at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center.
Katherine’s research focuses on understanding the impact of major health policy,
economic, environmental, and societal shifts on the growing drug overdose crisis. She is
also passionate about improving the communication of injury and violence research to
policymakers and the public.
Part 2: Deep Dive into Gabapentin in Ohio
Objectives:
1. Analyze Gabapentin prescription drug trends in the state of Ohio.
2. Describe Gabapentin prescription misuse in Ohio.
3. Identify risk factors of Gabapentin misuse in Ohio.
Presenter: Agent Kelly Monce Franklin, earned her bachelor’s degree in the specialized
studies field of family advocacy communication from Ohio University. Agent Monce is a
commissioned peace officer in Ohio with an eclectic professional background combining
over 20 years’ experience in law enforcement with substance use prevention and
treatment. She has been an Agent with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy (OBP) since May of
2016, and is currently assigned to the OBP Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System
(OARRS) Early Intervention (EI) Unit.
Part 3: Prevention Strategies for Gabapentin Misuse in Communities
Objectives:
1. Gain insights on community-based prevention of Gabapentin misuse.
2. Articulate recommended prevention strategies for Gabapentin misuse.
3. Create plans to provide Gabapentin misuse prevention services in
communities
Presenter: Kirk Evoy, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM, CTTS, FCCP, FTSHP Kirk Evoy is a
Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy at The University of Texas at
Austin, as well as an Adjoint Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at the
University of Texas Health San Antonio. In addition to his teaching responsibilities within
the college, Dr. Evoy also cares for patients as an ambulatory pharmacist within
University Health in San Antonio and leads a substance use disorder research program.
