Drug knowledge (prescription, over-the-counter, social): young adult consumers at risk?

Abstract

This article reports the results of a survey testing the knowledge that 561 young adults have regarding the use and effects of various over-the-counter, prescription, and social (alcohol, nicotine, caffeine) drug products. The sample group as a whole, correctly answered, on the average, 71 percent of the questions on the Drug Knowledge Test, with women demonstrating somewhat greater knowledge. Four of the content areas—alcohol, contraceptives, O-T-C drugs, and general drug information were distributed equally among the high, moderate, and low knowledge categories. None of the questions dealing with nicotine were in the low knowledge grouping. The misinformation in certain areas that respondents demonstrated led to the conclusion that they were at risk and therefore, Caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware), as a viable perspective regarding the purchase and consumption of legal drugs was untenable. Since the Drug Knowledge Test elicited much student discussion and was readily modifiable, it was proposed that this instrument would be useful in drug and health education programs. Health educators were precautioned not to overlook problems associated with legal drugs in the current climate of the “war” on illicit drugs.