The Role of Anonymity in Determining the Self-Reported Use of Cocaine and Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use Among College Students

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground: Nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPSU) is commonly reported by college students and is on the rise. It is possible that increases in NPSU rates may stem from a lack of stigmatization regarding use, given recent evidence that students do not hold strong negative perceptions related to NPSU. Objectives: This study aimed to assess NPSU and cocaine use using a conventional method and a method that assures anonymity. As anonymous data collection has typically found higher prevalence rates for stigmatized behaviors compared to conventional techniques, it was expected that cocaine rates would differ between techniques, while NPSU rates would not. Methods: At a Midwestern university during the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 terms, groups of college student participants were randomly assigned either to a condition in which the data collection method guaranteed their anonymity (n = 204) or to a condition using a more conventional data collection technique that did not guarantee anonymity (n = 236). Participants responded to self-report measures assessing stimulant use, perception of anonymity of the methods, and demographics. Results: When anonymity was guaranteed, male participants were significantly more likely to report cocaine use. However, no differences in NPSU rates were noted for either sex, regardless of anonymity. Conclusions: These results suggest that NPSU may not have the same perceived negative social consequences as other more stigmatized stimulant drugs, with young men in particular giving little weight to the potential consequences of NPSU.