title: Nonmedical prescription analgesic use and concurrent alcohol consumption among college students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has linked heavy alcohol use with nonmedical prescription analgesic use, but no studies have focused on concurrent use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand the extent to which alcohol use and nonmedical prescription analgesic use co-occur among college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Timeline Followback method was used to split the sample (n = 1,118) into three groups based on their alcohol and nonmedical prescription analgesic use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all nonmedical prescription analgesic users, 58% (n = 90) were concurrent users. Concurrent users consumed more drinks per drinking day (7.5) than non-concurrent (5.8) and alcohol-only users (5.2), and drank more often (74.4% of days in the past six months, vs. 45.7% and 36.8%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrent alcohol and analgesic use is prevalent among nonmedical users of prescription analgesics. Findings suggest a need for heightened awareness and increased research of the risks of coingestion.
authors.affiliation: Center for Substance Abuse Research, University of Maryland, College Park, 20740, USA.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.forename: Amelia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arria
authors.forename: Kimberly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.forename: Kathryn B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Wish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D055553:Prescription Drugs