This guide contains materials for use in conducting a 10-hour classroom and laboratory course to train individuals in the safe administration of nonparenteral medications in a 15-bed or smaller residential facility for mentally retarded persons, a child care facility, or a supervised apartment living setting. The guide begins with a course rationale and outline. Presented next are the course's five units, which cover the following topics: Iowa and federal laws and controlling agencies; general information about nonparenteral drugs; selected drug families (analgesics, central nervous system stimulants, drugs to relax tension and produce sleep, drugs controlling seizure activity, drugs affecting individual systems of the body, and miscellaneous drugs); and clinical evaluation. Each unit contains some or all of the following: overview, objectives, introduction, student handouts, and study questions. Also included in the unit on selected drug families are tables detailing the following information on each of the 15 drug families discussed: action/systems affected, general precautions, brand (generic) name, usual dosage and administration route, whether the drug is a controlled substance, side effects, and special precautions. Concluding the guide are a 13-page glossary and drug index. (MN)