Image Analysis

          

              Over the past decade the abuse of prescription drugs has skyrocketed. The number of people abusing prescription medications in 2012 rose to 6.8 million users from 6.1 million users in 2011, a 10% increase, as indicated in the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This annual report provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also shows that prescription drugs continue to be

one of the most abused controlled substances, second only to marijuana. Abuse rates for all major categories of prescription drugs saw increases, with painkillers remaining the most abused substance (with nearly 4.9 million illicit users, up from 4.5 million in 2011). Despite these increases, rates of prescription drug abuse among youths aged 12 to 17 remained at 2.8%, preserving a gradual decline from a rate of 4% in 2002. Over half the number of people who obtained prescription drugs for non-medical use received them from a friend or relative at no cost, while another 15% bought them or took them from a friend or relative. Prescription drug related deaths now outnumber those from heroin and cocaine combined, and drug overdose deaths exceed motor vehicle-related deaths in 29 states and Washington, D.C. Misuse and abuse of prescription drugs costs the country an estimated $53.4 billion a year in lost productivity, medical costs and criminal justice costs, and currently only one in 10 Americans with a substance abuse disorder receives treatment.

            One organization that is dedicated to helping solve this issue is The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. NABP’s member boards of pharmacy are grouped into eight districts that include all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Australia, eight Canadian provinces, and New Zealand. The Association is governed by its Executive Committee, whose officers and members are elected during the Association’s Annual Meeting.

         Colors have deep subliminal meanings that affect our thinking and rational. They have symbolic meaning that changes amongst different cultures and countries. The NABP’s logo evokes a sense of power. The use of red captures your attention and pulls you in. Red is passionate and I think this is NABP’s color because they are passionate about helping everything. The logo also incorporates white as well. White is not a color, but it stands for wholeness and completion. In many cultures it represents openness and truth. White has a cold quality. It can provide clarity, as its energy is complete. White has purification vibrations and can be used to clear blocks from your path. It holds the potential to move toward every other color and this makes it a good choice for new beginnings, and development in any direction. When these colors are put together the organizations ethos is revealed. It represents a strong and passionate association that wants to make everyone healthy and it also gives you a sense of peace and reliability. Looking at it I feel that they are organized and know what they are doing. Their professionalism is very able to see.

            Along with the color the shape is also important. The logo has two circles within a circle. The circle symbolizes infinity and eternity because the curves never end. The circle has no beginning or end. This is important because it means that this association will always try its best to better the community and the people apart of it. The rest of the logo includes its name and founding date which is necessary to both know what its for and to allow for credibility since its been around for a long time which sometimes people need to see in order to trust something they don’t know. The pictures inside are medical images that most people wouldn’t know but is put on there so you can tell its health related. Although this image is simple and precise it does say a lot and I think that it has the perfect amount of information on it to inform and not overwhelm.

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®). N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2014.

"Color Psychology | Infoplease.com." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free online reference, research & homework help. | Infoplease.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2014.