title: Intentional misuse of over-the-counter medications, mental health, and polysubstance use in young adults.
abstract: In recent years, the non-medical use of prescription drugs (without a doctor's prescription) has increased dramatically. Less attention has been paid to the intentional misuse of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Misuse of OTC medications has negative health consequences similar to those of illicit drugs, including psychosis, tachycardia, seizures and agitation. When mixed with alcohol or other drugs, these medications can also be dangerous: OTC-related emergency room visits increased 70% from 2004 to 2008. This study examined the intentional misuse of OTC medications, the non-medical use of prescription drugs, the use of alcohol and illicit drugs, and psychological factors in two samples of young adults (ages 18-25) from different areas of the United States (Total N = 1,197). Overall, 18.6% of the Colorado sample and 13.0% of the Virginia sample reported lifetime misuse of an OTC medication. Participants who reported misusing OTC medications were also significantly more likely to report using marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, and non-medical use of prescription analgesics, stimulants, anxiolytics, and sedatives. Participants who reported misusing OTC medications were more than twice as likely to report hazardous alcohol use, relative to individuals who denied misusing OTC medications. Individuals who had misused OTC medications scored significantly higher in sensation seeking and hopelessness and reported more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatic distress, relative to those who denied OTC misuse. Results suggest that a considerable minority of young adults are jeopardizing their health with the misuse of OTC medications as part of a pattern of polysubstance use.
authors: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA, ebenotsch@vcu.edu.
authors: Eric G
authors: EG
authors: Benotsch
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Koester
authors: Aaron M
authors: AM
authors: Martin
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Cejka
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Luckman
authors: Amy J
authors: AJ
authors: Jeffers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs