title: Nonmedical use of sedatives in urban Bengaluru.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonmedical sedative use is emerging as a serious problem in India. However, there is paucity of literature on the patterns of use in the population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present analysis was to explore sedative use patterns in an urban metropolis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for the present analysis come from the parent study on nonmedical prescription drug use in Bengaluru, India. Participants (n = 717) were recruited using a mall-intercept approach, wherein they were intercepted in five randomly selected shopping malls, and administered an interview on their use of prescription drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Past 12-month nonmedical sedative use was reported by 12%, benzodiazepines being the commonest. Reasons cited for nonmedical use included "sleeplessness, pain relief, stress." A majority (73%) reported sedative use "in ways other than as prescribed," compared to "use without prescription" (27%). All prescriptions were issued by general physicians in private hospitals. About 11% among those who used "in ways other than as prescribed," and 100% of nonprescribed users, reported irregular use (skipping doses/stopping/restarting). Among those who used "in ways other than prescribed," pharmacy stores were the source of obtaining the sedatives. Among "nonprescribed users," family/friends were the main source. Three-percent reported using sedatives and alcohol together in the same use episode. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, nonmedical sedative use was significantly associated with graduation-level education or above (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-4.91), and married status (aOR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.04-5.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings underscore the need for considering various contextual factors in tailoring preventive interventions for reducing nonmedical sedative use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Prasanthi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nattala
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center for Addiction Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Pratima
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thennarasu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Cottler
keywords: Nonmedical sedative use; prescription drug misuse; sedative abuse; sedative misuse