title: Nonmedical stimulant use among young Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and mixed-race individuals aged 12-34 years in the United States.
abstract: There are concerns over nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among youths, but little is known about the extent of use among young Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NHs/PIs), and mixed-race individuals-the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population. We examined prevalences and correlates of nonmedical stimulant use (NMSU) and disorder (StiUD) for these underrecognized groups. Whites were included as a comparison. Data were from young individuals aged 12-34 years in the 2005-2012 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. We used logistic regression to estimate odds of past-year NMSU status. Significant yearly increases in lifetime NMSU prevalence were noted in Whites only. NHs/PIs (lifetime 7.33%, past-year 2.72%) and mixed-race individuals (10.20%, 2.82%) did not differ from Whites in NMSU prevalence (11.68%, 3.15%). Asian-Americans (lifetime 3.83%, past-year 0.90%) had lower prevalences than Whites. In each racial/ethnic group, "Methamphetamine/Desoxyn/Methedrine or Ritalin" was more commonly used than other stimulant groups; "got them from a friend/relative for free" and "bought them from a friends/relative" were among the most common sources. Females had greater odds than males of NMSU (among White, NH/PI, mixed-race individuals) and StiUD (among mixed-race individuals). Young adults (aged 18-25) had elevated odds of NMSU (White, NH/PI); adolescents had elevated odds of StiUD (White, mixed-race). Other substance use (especially marijuana, other prescription drugs) increased odds of NMSU and StiUD. NHs/PIs and mixed-race individuals were as likely as Whites to misuse stimulants. Research is needed to delineate health consequences of NMSU and inform prevention efforts for these understudied, rapidly-growing populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: litzy.wu@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Li-Tzy
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Marvin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.affiliation: South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Dan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Blazer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Rick H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hoyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asian-Americans; Marijuana use; Mixed race; Multiple race; Native Hawaiians; Nonmedical drug use; Pacific Islanders