Illicit use of prescribed stimulant medication among college students.
The authors investigated illicit use of stimulant medications at a midwestern university. They used a questionnaire to (a) examine the extent to which university students illicitly used stimulant medications prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; (b) determine why college students abused such drugs; and (c) identify the factors that predicted illicit use of prescribed stimulant medication. Findings revealed that 17% of 179 surveyed men and 11% of 202 women reported illicit use of prescribed stimulant medication. Forty-four percent of surveyed students stated that they knew students who used stimulant medication illicitly for both academic and recreational reasons. Students reported they experienced time pressures associated with college life and that stimulants were said to increase alertness and energy. Regression analysis revealed that the factor that predicted men's use was knowing where to get easily acquired stimulant medication, whereas the main predictor for women was whether another student had offered the prescribed stimulants.
Hall
Kristina M
KM
Human Development Center, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 54702, USA.
Irwin
Melissa M
MM
Bowman
Krista A
KA
Frankenberger
William
W
Jewett
David C
DC
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D013287:Illicit Drugs