title: Nonmedical prescription drug use among US college students at a Midwest university: a partial test of social learning theory.
abstract: We estimate the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug (NMPD) use and test social learning theory as an explanation for NMPD use based upon data from a large pilot study. Data were collected from 465 college students at a Midwestern university in the USA using a self-administered questionnaire. The sample was predominantly white (88%), 43% were female and the mean age was 22. Most participants (80%) were not members of social fraternities or sororities. A majority of students did not report NMPD use: 39.4% of respondents reported lifetime NMPD use, 31% reported past-year use, and 14.4% reported past-month use. Multivariate regression results partially supported social learning theory as an explanation for lifetime NMPD use. Limitations and suggestions for future research are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-1905, USA. rp32@uakron.edu
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs