title: The nonmedical use of prescription medicines among high school students: a cross-sectional study in Southern China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of the nonmedical use of prescription medicines (NMUPM) and the association between NMUPM and demographic, family and school factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2007 to 2009. A total of 21,672 middle and high school students were surveyed in seven cities of Guangdong Province. Self-reported NMUPM and information regarding family and school factors were collected. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to explore potentially influential factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total sample, the mean age was 16 (±1.9) years. Approximately 6.0% of respondents reported lifetime NMUPM. The most common nonmedically used prescription drug among NMUPM users was scattered analgesics, at approximately 3.9%, followed by cough medicine with codeine (2.1%). Multilevel logistic regression analysis indicated that living arrangements, available money, social friends, and smoking were significantly correlated with NMUPM among boys and girls. Academic achievement and family relationships were only significantly correlated with NMUPM among girls, and communication with parents was only associated with NMUPM among boys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that NMUPM represented a considerable problem for particular subgroups of adolescents. A well-established surveillance system and target intervention programs are needed given the potential long-term negative outcomes of NMUPM.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1, Qide Road, Jiahe, Baiyun, Guangzhou 510440, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Centre for ADR Monitoring of Guangdong, No. 74-2, Dongfengdong Road, Yuexiu, Guangzhou 510000, China.
authors.forename: Jianxiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 76, Lingjiang Road, Chongqing 400010, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu, Guangzhou 510000, China. Electronic address: luciyong@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ciyong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 76, Lingjiang Road, Chongqing 400010, China.
authors.forename: Jinghui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 76, Lingjiang Road, Chongqing 400010, China.
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu, Guangzhou 510000, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu, Guangzhou 510000, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012907:Smoking; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Adolescents; High school students; NMUPM; Nonmedical prescription medicine