1

Taking the technical writing class this year has greatly helped my professional writing

skills. I learned the proper way to write a letter to a superior, even if it were a complaint, how to

properly organize a research paper with graphics and placement. I also learned how to write a

resume that is attractive to the eye and can make you stand out as a potential employee. Below

are some samples of a research paper I wrote about the opioid epidemic, and 2 other writing

samples. I have had in the past a hard time organizing my thoughts and I fell that with my

research paper I was more aware of the best techniques to do so.

Resume ……………………………………………………..pg 2
Research Paper ……………………………………………..pg 5
Sample 1…………………………………………………….pg 13
Sample 2 ……………………………………………………pg 15
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Resume
Aubree Baranowski
1925 Logan Ave
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
801.867.7369 abnowski@gmail.com

September 17, 2018

Angela Cook
2330 E Ft. Union Blvd
Sandy, Ut 84121

Dr Ms. Cook:

I am very glad to see that you have a staff position opening in your pharmacy and would love an
interview. Included is my resume pertaining to the open position for a staff pharmacist. I have recently
graduated with honors from the University of Utah Pharm D program and feel I can be an excellent asset
to your team. Some of my rotations have been at competing retail pharmacies, and also in hospitals.

I have worked for Walgreens in the retail pharmacy since 2013 as a technician, and then in 2020 as an
intern. I have also worked for Jolley’s Compounding Pharmacy as a head compounder and I am very up
to date with pharmacy law and HIPPA policies. My pharmacy is a tier 4 pharmacy and I am used to the
high demand and high volume of customers. On average, my store does 750 scripts per day. I call
insurances, doctors offices, and patients throughout the day to make sure that each customer is being
taken care of and any issues are resolved. I know I can keep up with the high demand of your store as
well.
I have also gained customer service skills working as a cosmetologist for Super Cuts, and as a cashier at
Journey’s Shoe Store. I know how to read a customer and get the feel of their comfort levels. Knowing
how to read customers greatly aids in my ability to adequately consult with patients.
I am proficient in Intercom Plus and Store NET. I have also been through a Rite Aid buyout and know the
ins and outs of the process. I am hard working and would like to continue to be a loyal employee for
Walgreens.
Sincerely,

Aubree Baranowski
 3

Aubree M. Baranowski

1925 Logan Ave ● Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 ● 801.867.7369

abnowski@gmaill.com

Objective
Staff Pharmacist

Education
• Olympus High School, 2013 graduate
• Granite Technical Institute, 2013 graduate
• Salt Lake Community College, 2018-Current Major-BS Biology
• Sherman Kendall Academy of Beauty, 2016 graduate
• University of Utah Pharm D, 2024
Skills
• Cashier, customer service
• DOPL Certified Barber/Cosmetologist (Current)
• DOPL Certified Sr. Pharmacy Technician (Current)
• DOPL Certified Controlled Substance (Current)
• DOPL Certified Pharmacist (Current)
Employment
• Journeys- Fashion Place Mall, SLC, UT (November 2012- May 2013)
• Shoe salesperson. I assisted customers, stocked inventory, handled money, and diffused
disputes between customers and employees. This job helped me use great customer
service and I learned to work well with a variety of individuals.
• Jen Bennett Wedding Planner, SLC, UT (October 2009-Current)
• Florist. I assemble bouquets, boutonnieres, and flower arrangements for weddings. I help
with set-up and takedown of wedding venues. I also help with brides and the wedding
party, making sure everyone is satisfied.
• Pibs X-Change, SLC, UT (September-November 2012-2013)
• Seasonal cashier. Assisted customers in sales, kept the store clean and organized, and
showed great customer service. Assisted in costume and make-up design.
• Van Boerum & Frank Associates, SLC, UT (June 2013- November 2013)
• Runner. File paper work, answer phones and direct them to the appropriate party, picking
up and delivering important documents, and cleaning around the office. This job taught
me responsibility and to finish projects in a timely manner.
• Supercuts, 430 E 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT- (December 2015-April 2017)
• Stylist and barber. Deep conditioning, blow outs, formulating color, cornrows, perms,
men's and women's cuts and efficient with all over weaves, up styles, and braiding.
• Walgreens, 2330 E Ft Union Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT- (October 2013-Current)
 4

• Retail Sr. Pharmacy Technician. Patient interaction, typing prescriptions, calling

insurance companies, answering phones. Resolving problems for patients.

References
Ms. Angela Cook (Pharmacy Manager) Mrs. Jen Ennis (SKA Manager)
2330 E Ft Union Blvd 700 East 2230 South

Sandy, UT 84121 Salt Lake City, UT 84106

801.308.1013 801.486.0101
 5

Research Paper

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................. 5
METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 5
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 6
ADDICTION ................................................................................................................................................ 6
TOLERANCE ............................................................................................................................................... 8
TREATMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 8
ASK A PHARMACIST ................................................................................................................................ 9
FIGURE 1 ................................................................................................................................................... 11
FIGURE 2 ................................................................................................................................................... 11
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 12

ABSTRACT
Opioid addiction has become so problematic in the United States that it is now considered

an epidemic. Opioids bind to the epinephrine (pleasure) receptors in the brain, causing the user to

want more and more. The more an opioid is used, the less effective it becomes. This motivates

the user to increase dosages to achieve initial effects. When an opioid is taken at higher doses, or

for longer periods of time, there is an inherit risk of overdose. The drug Narcan has recently

become available in 46 states in pharmacies, without a prescription, to help patients and their

caregivers to avoid user deaths due to overdose. There are limited treatment options for people

addicted to opioids, which makes it harder for them to terminate harmful dependencies.

METHODOLOGY
Utilizing Salt Lake Community College Library’s search engine, I found many online

resources for my topic. I also used google to locate online journals, and to navigate the CDC
 6

website. I reviewed many articles and took notes pertaining to the main points of my paper.

Additionally, I applied my knowledge and training from 5 years working at Walgreens retail

pharmacy, which deals with many patients who take opioids. I also interviewed several

pharmacists, currently working for Walgreens, whose job it is to help patients understand their

medications, and how to take them in such a way as to avoid addiction.

INTRODUCTION
An opioid is a class of powerful pain-relieving drugs made from the opium poppy plant.

Some prescription medications are formulated using the same chemical structure as opium,

which helps alleviate severe pain and relax the body. Some of the most commonly prescribed

opioids are oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine.1 Even though they are prescribed,

it does not mean they don’t come with their own set of risks. Opioids create an immediate feeling

of euphoria and their chemicals bind to the brain’s opioid receptors, which triggers an instant

release of endorphins, powerful chemicals made naturally in the human brain in response to

pleasure. This also often blocks sensations of pain and causes drowsiness and calmness in a

patient. During this action, the central nervous system also slows down, along with heartrate,

breathing, and peristatic movement in the colon. Using an opioid for a short amount of time is

usually not harmful and can help a person to heal and recover from injury and pain. Over time

and with continual use, however, the brain’s ability to make its own endorphins is diminished

and a dependency, or addiction to the opioid emerges (Piotrowski, Nancy).

ADDICTION
Opioids are highly addictive and overdoses are common (National Institute on Drug

Abuse, 2018). Deaths from opioid overdose has quadrupled in the last two decades and out of all

1
Figure 1 pg 8
 7

recorded overdose deaths, the CDC has determined that 66% of these were caused specifically

by opioids (Terrell, Rebecca)2. Opioid addiction has reached epidemic levels in the United

States. Currently, 46 states offer a lifesaving medication used in cases of overdose called Narcan,

which may be purchased with or without a prescription from a pharmacy. It is recommended for

anyone on long-term opioid use or for people who may have children in the home that could

potentially ingest the medication and become gravely ill. People who recreationally use illegal

substances can also benefit from having life-saving Narcan readily available if they, or someone

they know, are misusing drugs because there is an inherent risk of an overdose (Skwarecki,

Beth).

Many people who become dependent on opioids have certain risk factors, which increase

the likelihood of addiction. Some of these include: anxiety, depression, history of abuse, and

various other mood disorders. People who develop an addiction to opioids usually begin by

misusing, intentionally or otherwise, a prescription medication that was ordered for them by a

medical doctor for short-term use. When their prescriptions run out, become too expensive, or

their doctor declines to refill their medication, a growing number of addicted people are drawn to

illegal, often less expensive opioids such as heroin, or else taking medications not prescribed to

them (McCoy, Krisha). When a patient turns to using illegal forms of opioids, such as heroine or

opium, other dangers are also introduced. These opioids come in many forms. If a person is

injecting these drugs, and do not always have a clean needle, they are more likely to develop a

blood borne disease such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

2
Figure 2, pg 8
 8

TOLERANCE
The principle reason people become dependent on opioids is due to tolerance. That is,

over time, the body builds up resistance to a medication and requires more of the drug to achieve

the desired result. As the quantities become higher and higher, the body becomes addicted and

will exhibit withdrawal symptoms if the medication is discontinued. Withdrawal symptoms may

include: pain, sweating, heart palpitations, diarrhea, nausea, panic, Delirium Tremens (DTs), and

a host of other unpleasant, undesirable effects, or even death. Some patients attempt to stop

taking their medications, but their withdrawal symptoms are so severe that they decide to go

back on the medicine or they ask their prescriber to increase their dosage in order to avoid

withdrawal.

TREATMENT
Unfortunately, there are currently only limited options for treatment of opioid abuse.

They include: detox programs, rehabilitation, in- and out-patient treatment programs, and

medication regimens. These can be very costly and many are not covered by traditional

insurance plans. Medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone may be used to

alleviate some symptoms of withdrawal and help with the cravings of the opioid, however they

also include many other side-effects of their own, making individual treatment plans complex.

Most patients cannot detox on their own and require more in-depth treatments which combine

programs with medication. Some of these programs help to ween a patient by decreasing the

amount of opioid taken in a controlled environment to avoid misuse of other opioids, legal or

otherwise. Other programs are focused on behavioral modification and cognitive therapy to

address the behaviors that lead to the opioid addiction (National Institute on Drug Abuse).
 9

Not all programs work for every individual, and there is no one right or best treatment for

all those who find themselves addicted to opioids. The best cause of action is to avoid

dependence and addiction before they ever happen. When an opioid is prescribed, it is very

important to take the medication only as prescribed by the physician, and to avoid taking the

maximum allowable for the first dose. Many opioids are prescribed with the specific instruction,

“take only as needed.” This means to use the medication only as it is necessary for normal

functioning. The next step is to try over-the-counter NSAIDS or other anti-inflammatory

medications along with the opioid, or in conjunction with taking lower and lower doses, until it is

no longer needed. The physician and the pharmacist can go over which over-the-counter

products can be taken with the opioid to provide relief and to ensure the safety of the patient

(Piotrowski, Nancy).

ASK A PHARMACIST
Pharmacists interviewed: H. Sahota, J. Tran, A. Cook
Who is mainly responsible for the opioid epidemic?
Sahota: Doctors are responsible for the epidemic. Doctors over prescribe and write for
larger quantities.
Tran: Both patients and doctors. I don’t think that most doctors are intentionally
prescribing opioids with malicious intent. However, a lot of doctor reviews are based
on patient satisfaction, and patients who are more addicted can manipulate or threaten
to write bad reviews if they don’t get the medication that they “need”.
Cook: Patients are mainly responsible for the epidemic. I think they have become
addicted because they were previously prescribed, but then continued taking them.
They doctor shop, or go to the ER without real pain. They will go anywhere until they
find a doctor to prescribe for them. I think most doctors make sure their patients
aren’t abusing the drugs, but there are some doctors who don’t care about writing the
prescription because then they will still get their paycheck or copay.
What are some good alternatives to opioid pain killers?
Sahota: NSAIDS and physical therapy.
 10

Tran: Studies have shown that higher doses of Ibuprofen or Tylenol can be very
effective for pain management. Marijuana has been a hot topic recently, but I’m not
too sure how it effetely helps with pain, but I’m not opposed to seeing further
research towards helping keep people off of opioids.
Cook: NSAIDS are a great alternative. Ibuprofen works great. Physical therapy is
another area that gets overlooked, but can really help the patient, and can work
wonders.
What do you think about using suboxone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone as treatment for
opioid addiction?
Sahota: These meds are useful in helping patients ween from street drugs and sometimes
opioid. They should be more tightly controlled, and not abused.
Tran: They are basically trading one addiction for another. However, there isn’t really a
better alternative. Often times patients are on buprenorphine therapies for years, but it
is better than the alternative.
Cook: In theory it is great. However, most patients are abusing suboxone or using it as a
crutch. They don’t want to get better. They are trading one addiction for another.
How has the GFD(Good Faith Dispensing) criteria helped with the epidemic?
Sahota: At Walgreens the GFD program did not really cause much affect since that was
what we already had been doing. It just created more documentation of what was
being dispensed so that it could be quantitated.
Tran: I rarely deny patients due to the GFD guidelines. Most of the Walgreens patients
are good with knowing when they can get their medications filled again. Maybe
we’ve “trained” our patients and they are aware of how strict we are when it comes to
filling their prescriptions. Its entirely possible that addicts go to other chains or
pharmacies to get their opioids filled when we will not.
Cook: The GFD has helped us by making sure we look into the controlled substance data

base before dispensing medications. It also helps us to make sure that the patient isn’t doctor

shopping and that they don’t fill their prescriptions too early. Unfortunately, I think it has started

making us judge people based on their prescriptions prescribed.

 11

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2
 12

REFERENCES
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Prescription Opioids.” NIDA, 7 June 2018,

www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General,

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and

Health. Washington, DC: HHS, November 2016.

Skwarecki, Beth. Vitals, vitals.lifehacker.com/narcan-is-now-available-over-the-counter-in-

45-states-1819896107.

Terrell, Rebecca. “THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC: What’s the Solution?” New American

(08856540), vol. 34, no. 9, May 2018, p. 10. EBSCOhost,

libprox1.slcc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f

6h&AN=129253122&site=eds-live.

McCoy, Krisha, MS. “Opioid Abuse.” Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health,

2014. EBSCOhost,

libprox1.slcc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e

rs&AN=94415488&site=eds-live.

Piotrowski, Nancy A. “Opioids.” Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2013. EBSCOhost,

libprox1.slcc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e

rs&AN=89312299&site=eds-live.

Tran, J. Personal interview. October 30, 2018

Sahota, H. Personal interview. October 30, 2018

Cook, A. Personal interview. October 30, 2018

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Sample 1
Personal Letter:
September 5, 2018

Aubree Baranowski

1925 Logan Ave

Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Joel

5353 S 960 E

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Dear Joel,

My name is Aubree, and I work at your store #10731. I have been an employee with

Walgreens for 5 years. Recently with the Rite Aid buyout, there has been a lot of concern for

how to best retain their customers. My store has had many meetings going over strategies to do

so, and how to execute them. Currently, my store has one of the best retention rates in our

district, but has the lowest customer survey scores. Currently, corporate is monitoring the store’s

surveys and directly relating it to our customer service. Unfortunately, this is a very biased way

of getting true customer opinions. Customers have complained to me that the survey is too long,

and mainly focusses on the appearance of the store, and not really on customer service.
 14

Surveys are notoriously done by people who either had a really good experience, or a

really bad one. This lowers the number of surveys completed, which in turn does not give an

accurate representation of the actual customer service of the store. I recommend we find a new

way to survey our customers. We can do this by putting it on the key pad where the customer

pays for their purchase. The customer already answers verifying questions on the key pad, and it

would be very easy to add 1-3 questions asking about their customer experience as well. The

current survey questions could be randomized, and then asked in a way to let the customer

choose 1 to 10 on their experience. By doing this, we could have a better idea of where to focus

on in regards to our customer service because we would have more responses. Let me know what

you think either by e-mail abnowski@gmail.com, or phone, 801.867.7369.

Sincerely,

Aubree Baranowsk
 15

Sample 2
Ethical Dilemma