title: Prevalence of self-reported nonmedical use of prescription stimulants in North Carolina Doctor of Pharmacy students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence, associated factors, and opinions regarding nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) in Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic survey was distributed to professional year 1 through 4 for students at 2 schools of pharmacy (public and private) in North Carolina. The survey was available for 3 weeks. Descriptive statistics (proportion of responders plus 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were used to describe the primary objective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1043 surveys distributed, 407 were completed giving a 39% response rate. The results indicated that 9% (95% CI: 6.44-11.93) of PharmD students acknowledge NMUPS at least once during their pharmacy education. Additionally, 3% (95% CI: 1.90-5.45) acknowledge NMUPS at least once during the current pharmacy school year (past 5 months). Nonmedical prescription stimulant users were 9 times more likely to participate in NMUPS prior to pharmacy school (P < .0001) and 4.5 times more likely to use other illicit substances (P = .0076).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study identified the PharmD student population as high risk of abuse of prescription drug stimulants, which requires further research and attention. Additionally, there was a clear upward trend in the prevalence of NMUPS, and this misuse was associated with other detrimental behaviors.
authors: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Shenandoah University, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Winchester, VA, USA.
authors: Emily J
authors: EJ
authors: Volger
authors: Amber N
authors: AN
authors: McLendon
authors: Stephen H
authors: SH
authors: Fuller
authors: Charles T
authors: CT
authors: Herring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004514:Education, Pharmacy, Graduate / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants
keywords: misuse; pharmacy; prescription; stimulant; student; study drug