It is essential that participants ensure they will be able to continue taking their medications while abroad. Several challenges can complicate this, including restrictions on certain substances in other countries, varying importation rules, and whether insurers will cover large advance supplies.
Encouraging participants to plan ahead with their medications can feel daunting for program providers, but the recommendations in this article will help.
Why Don’t Participants Mention Their Medications?
There are many reasons why someone may not disclose that they are taking medication when preparing for a program:
- It may never occur to them. For people who have taken a medication their whole life, the idea that it could pose an issue abroad might not cross their minds.
- Medications are not considered an academic accommodation. In most institutions, disability accommodations are framed in terms of academic needs, not personal or medical concerns like prescriptions.
- Program participants may become preoccupied with other priorities during the preparation process.
- Some may feel anxious about sharing information on medications, since bringing it up could be perceived as disclosing a disability.
Steps for Providers to Take
Provide Resources
Education abroad professionals should ensure that students have access to practical guidance on traveling with medications. This should include details about importation rules, how to obtain an adequate supply, options for filling prescriptions in the host community, and guidance for air travel with medications. This information should be easy to find in all education abroad materials.
Rather than directly telling the traveler what steps to take regarding their specific medication, the focus might be on equipping them with the resources to investigate their own circumstances.
Establish Multiple Touch Points
Once medication guidance is included in program resources, it should be reinforced at every stage of the student experience:
- Highlight medication planning on every program webpage.
- Address medications in every advising session.
- Include reminders in all program outreach materials.
- Discuss medication considerations during pre-departure orientations, and encourage participants to reach out with questions.
It’s essential to remember that students may not respond to questions framed around “disability.” Medication use is not always connected to disability or accommodations.
Resources for Professionals and Travelers
Professionals advising participants on traveling with medications should be aware of the following resources:
- International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Guidelines for Travelers — official information on carrying controlled substances across borders.
- Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) — U.S. State Department resource offering country-specific safety and security updates, including health-related travel issues.
- Host country government health and customs websites — for the most up-to-date local regulations on prescription medications.
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