Nonmedical prescription drug use among college students: a comparison between athletes and nonathletes.
OBJECTIVE
Given the substantial increase in nonmedical prescription drug use in recent years and a lack of research on the topic, the author analyzed data on nonmedical prescription drug use among college students.


METHODS
Using data from the 2001 College Alcohol Study (N = 10,904), the author examined variation in nonmedical prescription drug use on the basis of athletic involvement. Previous research shows that college athletes are at greater risk for certain types of substance use.


RESULTS
Findings indicate that athletes are less likely to report nonmedical prescription drug use than are nonathletes.


CONCLUSIONS
This shows that involvement in athletics, especially for women, is a protective factor for substance use among college students.
Ford
Jason A
JA
Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816-1360, USA. jaford@mail.ucf.edu
D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
D055553:Prescription Drugs