Rates Of Non-medical Use Research Articles

Internet-based Survey of Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use in the United States

Prescription opioid misuse is a growing problem in the United States. There are limited data to illuminate the nature of this issue. The Internet seems to be a novel approach in surveying populations of opioid users. An Internet-based survey of nonmedical opioid users visiting informational drug websites was used to measure rates of nonmedical use and characterize users. The prescription opioid module of the Addiction Severity Index Multimedia Version Connect was adapted to include variables such as favorite opioid. Links to the survey were posted on an informational drug website. Nonmedical use rates for KADIAN (morphine sulfate extended-release tablets), OxyContin (oxycodone HCl controlled-release tablets), Vicodin (hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets), and product-classes (morphine ER, oxycodone ER, and hydrocodone) were calculated. Descriptive statistics were calculated for remaining questions. During a 1-month recruitment period, 896 valid individuals completed the survey. Majority were white (78.3%) and male (72.4%). Participants were less likely to have used KADIAN in the past 30 days compared with OxyContin (P<0.0001) and Vicodin (P=0.0021). Additionally, participants were less likely to have used morphine ER in the previous 30 days than either oxycodone ER (P<0.0001) or hydrocodone (P<0.0001). Among OxyContin, Vicodin, and KADIAN users, OxyContin (43.8%), Dilaudid (15.6%), and fentanyl (9.4%) were the top 3 favorite opioids. This project demonstrates the feasibility of conducting product-specific, online surveys with rapid recruitment of participants from websites. This approach differentiates rates of nonmedical use of specific prescription opioids and provides other insights into individuals who nonmedically use opioids.

Misperceptions of non-medical prescription drug use: A web survey of college students

Objectives This study compared undergraduate students' perceived versus actual prevalence rates of non-medical use of marijuana, prescription opioids and prescription stimulants. Methods In 2005, a randomly selected sample of 3639 college students self-administered a Web survey regarding their substance use behaviors and attitudes (68% response rate). Results The majority of undergraduate students overestimated the prevalence of non-medical use of prescription stimulants (70.2%) and prescription opioids (69.9%) and marijuana use (50.5%) among peers on their campus. The mean difference between perceived versus actual past-year use was considerably greater for non-medical use of prescription stimulants (mean difference = 12.2, 95% CI = 11.7–12.7) and prescription opioids (mean difference = 8.8, 95% CI = 8.3–9.2) than marijuana (mean difference = 2.9, 95% CI = 2.2–3.6). Multivariate regression analysis revealed overestimation of non-medical use of prescription drugs was significantly associated with gender and medical use of prescription drugs. Conclusions The findings provided strong evidence of misperception of non-medical prescription drug use among college students. Future research and prevention efforts should assess the impact of correcting misperceived norms on reducing non-medical prescription drug use.

Trends and college‐level characteristics associated with the non‐medical use of prescription drugs among US college students from 1993 to 2001

The present study examines the prevalence trends and college-level characteristics associated with the non-medical use of prescription drugs (i.e. amphetamines, opioids, sedatives, tranquilizers) and illicit drug use among US college students between 1993 and 2001. Data were collected from self-administered mail surveys, sent to independent cross-sectional samples of college students from a nationally representative sample of 119 colleges in 4 years between 1993 and 2001. Nationally representative 4-year US colleges and universities in 1993, 1997, 1999 and 2001. Representative samples of 15,282, 14,428, 13,953 and 10,904 randomly selected college students at these colleges in 1993, 1997, 1999 and 2001, respectively. The results indicate that life-time and 12-month prevalence rates of non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMPD) increased between 1993 and 2001. Specific college-level characteristics were found to be correlated positively (marijuana use) and negatively (historically black college status and commuter status) with NMPD, consistently across the four cross-sectional samples. Significant between-college variation in terms of trajectories in the prevalence of NMPD over time was found in hierarchical linear models, and selected college-level characteristics were not found to explain all of the variation in the trajectories, suggesting the need for further investigation of what determines between-college variance in the prevalence trends. The findings of the present study suggest that continued monitoring of NMPD and illicit drug use among college students is needed and collegiate substance prevention programs should include efforts to reduce these drug use behaviors.

Correlates of nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics: results from a national survey of U.S. college students

This study examined the prevalence and correlates associated with the nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics among U.S. college students. This study analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 10,904 randomly selected students attending 119, 4-year U.S. colleges in 2001. The lifetime prevalence of nonmedical prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytic use was 7.8%, past year prevalence was 4.5% and past month was 1.6%. Past year rates of nonmedical use of prescription anxiolytics ranged from zero percent at the lowest use schools to 20% at the highest use school. Multivariate regression analyses indicated nonmedical use was more likely to occur among college students who were White, had both male and female sex partners and reported higher rates of substance use and other risky behaviors. In addition, nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics was less likely to occur among college students who attended college in the North Central region of the U.S. or historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This study provides evidence that the nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics represents a problem on some college campuses and among certain subgroups of U.S. college students. These findings have important implications for developing prevention efforts aimed at reducing the nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics among college students while not hindering the effective clinical treatment for various anxiety disorders.

Non‐medical use of prescription stimulants among US college students: prevalence and correlates from a national survey

To examine the prevalence rates and correlates of non-medical use of prescription stimulants (Ritalin, Dexedrine or Adderall) among US college students in terms of student and college characteristics. A self-administered mail survey. One hundred and nineteen nationally representative 4-year colleges in the United States. A representative sample of 10 904 randomly selected college students in 2001. Self-reports of non-medical use of prescription stimulants and other substance use behaviors. The life-time prevalence of non-medical prescription stimulant use was 6.9%, past year prevalence was 4.1% and past month prevalence was 2.1%. Past year rates of non-medical use ranged from zero to 25% at individual colleges. Multivariate regression analyses indicated non-medical use was higher among college students who were male, white, members of fraternities and sororities and earned lower grade point averages. Rates were higher at colleges located in the north-eastern region of the US and colleges with more competitive admission standards. Non-medical prescription stimulant users were more likely to report use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and other risky behaviors. The findings of the present study provide evidence that non-medical use of prescription stimulants is more prevalent among particular subgroups of US college students and types of colleges. The non-medical use of prescription stimulants represents a high-risk behavior that should be monitored further and intervention efforts are needed to curb this form of drug use.