title: Characteristics of college students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms who misuse their medications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current investigation is to examine the characteristics of college students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms who misuse their prescribed psychostimulant medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three undergraduate students with a prescription for Ritalin or Adderall completed structured interviews and a battery of questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses revealed that compared to non-misusers, misusers were significantly more likely to report using a greater number of illicit substances, including nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, and opiates, over the past year. Additionally, compared to non-misusers, misusers were significantly more likely to report greater negative expectancies effects, experience more hyperactivity symptoms, and score higher on a measure of sensation seeking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings have important implications for future prevention initiatives. In particular, knowledge regarding the extent of misuse in populations with and without prescriptions and variables associated with misuse is essential to the development of effective prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA. bj757184@albany.edu
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jardin
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Looby
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Earleywine
mesh_terms: D000662:Amphetamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C090411:Adderall; D000662:Amphetamines; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D008774:Methylphenidate