title: Illicit use of prescription stimulants in a college student sample: a theory-guided analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The illicit use of prescription stimulants (IUPS) has emerged as a high-risk behavior of the 21st century college student. As the study of IUPS is relatively new, we aimed to understand (1) characteristics of IUPS (i.e., initiation, administration routes, drug sources, motives, experiences), and (2) theory-guided intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental correlates associated with use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using one-stage cluster sampling, 520 students (96.3% response rate) at one Pacific Northwest University completed a paper-based, in-classroom survey on IUPS behaviors and expected correlates. Aim 1 was addressed using descriptive statistics and aim 2 was addressed via three nested logistic regression analyses guided by the Theory of Triadic Influence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of ever engaging in IUPS during college was 25.6%. The majority (>50.0%) of users reported initiation during college, oral use, friends as the drug source, academic motives, and experiencing desired outcomes. Intrapersonal correlates associated with use included identifying as White, lower grade point average, diagnoses of attention deficit disorder, and lower avoidance self-efficacy. Interpersonal correlates of use included off-campus residence, varsity sports participation, IUPS perceptions by socializing agents, and greater behavioral norms. Exposure to prescription drug print media, greater prescription stimulant knowledge, and positive attitudes towards prescription stimulants were environmental correlates associated with use. In all models, IUPS intentions were strongly associated with use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IUPS was prevalent on the campus under investigation and factors from the intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental domains were associated with the behavior. Implications for prevention and future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Prevention Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1995 University Avenue, Suite 450, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States. Electronic address: NBavarian@berkeley.org.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bavarian
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Flay
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ketcham
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000523:psychology*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: College students; Health behavior theory; Prescription stimulants