Reasons For Use Research Articles

Kratom Abuse Potential 2021: An Updated Eight Factor Analysis.

Drugs are regulated in the United States (US) by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) if assessment of their abuse potential, including public health risks, show such control is warranted. An evaluation via the 8 factors of the CSA provides the comprehensive assessment required for permanent listing of new chemical entities and previously uncontrolled substances. Such an assessment was published for two kratom alkaloids in 2018 that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have identified as candidates for CSA listing: mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH-MG) (Henningfield et al., 2018a). That assessment concluded the abuse potential of MG was within the range of many other uncontrolled substances, that there was not evidence of an imminent risk to public health, and that a Schedule I listing (the only option for substances that are not FDA approved for therapeutic use such as kratom) carried public health risks including drug overdoses by people using kratom to abstain from opioids. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated abuse potential assessment reviewing greater than 100 studies published since January 1, 2018. These include studies of abuse potential and physical dependence/withdrawal in animals; in-vitro receptor binding; assessments of potential efficacy treating pain and substance use disorders; pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies with safety-related findings; clinical studies of long-term users with various physiological endpoints; and surveys of patterns and reasons for use and associated effects including dependence and withdrawal. Findings from these studies suggest that public health is better served by assuring continued access to kratom products by consumers and researchers. Currently, Kratom alkaloids and derivatives are in development as safer and/or more effective medicines for treating pain, substances use disorders, and mood disorders. Placing kratom in the CSA via scheduling would criminalize consumers and possession, seriously impede research, and can be predicted to have serious adverse public health consequences, including potentially thousands of drug overdose deaths. Therefore, CSA listing is not recommended. Regulation to minimize risks of contaminated, adulterated, and inappropriately marketed products is recommended.

Heated tobacco product use, its correlates, and reasons for use among Mexican smokers

BackgroundLittle is known about the use of novel heated tobacco products (HTPs) in low- and middle-income countries. We examined among smokers in Mexico the prevalence and correlates of HTP use, as well as reasons for using HTPs. MethodsWe analyzed data from five surveys (November 2019-March 2021) of an open cohort of adult smokers (n = 6500), including an oversample of those who also use e-cigarettes. Mixed-effects multinomial logistic models were used to estimate associations between study variables and current HTP use or prior HTP trial relative to never trying HTPs. ResultsThe weighted prevalence of current HTP use was 1.1%. Independent correlates of current HTP use included smoking frequency, intention to quit, e-cigarette use, having partners/family-members who use e-cigarettes, friends who use HTPs, and exposure to HTP information inside/outside tobacco shops. Having partners/family members who smoke and not knowing about the harm of HTPs relative to cigarettes were associated with lower likelihood of current HTP use. Having tried HTPs was more likely among light daily smokers, those with family who use HTPs and exposure to HTP information outside shops and on newspapers/magazines. Among current users, the top reasons for using HTPs were greater social acceptability (50.6%) and lower perceived harm (34.9%) relative to cigarettes. ConclusionsUptake of HTPs appears relatively low among Mexican smokers, and correlates of use are similar to those for e-cigarette use. Further research is needed to determine if HTPs use promotes or impedes smoking cessation, given current HTP users are also likely to use various nicotine products.

Upotreba anksiolitika i hipnotika tokom COVID-19 pandemije - pregled literature

Anxiolytics and hypnotics are widely used drugs. First-line psychiatric indications for benzodiazepines (BZD) are alcohol/sedative-hypnotic withdrawal and catatonia, while panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and insomnia are indications after failing of first/second-line treatments, and its use is recommended only for a short time. The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus influenced regular daily living, psychological, social, and economic stability. The COVID-19 pandemic has a multifactorial effect on people's mental health and has directly and indirectly influenced changing trends in the prescription, use and misuse of anxiolytics and hypnotics during the pandemic. This article will show use of anxiolytics and hypnotics in inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with or without delirium, will present recommendation for BZD utilization in the infected individuals and will review interactions between BZD and antiviral drugs. Moreover, it will summarize available data on the frequency and reasons for use and abuse of BZD in the general population during the pandemic.

Traditional Medicine Utilisation Among Pregnant Women in Sub-saharan African Countries: A Systematic Review of Literature.

Traditional medicine has the potential to boost the health and economies of many SSA countries, especially if regulatory mechanisms are deployed to govern their protection and utilisation. There is lack of knowledge regarding traditional medicines and their impact on pregnancy. This paper reviews the literature on traditional medicine utilisation among pregnant women in Sub-Saharan African countries. The paper, determined the proportion of pregnant women utilising traditional medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa, identified the different types of traditional medicine used during antenatal care and reasons for Use in Sub-Saharan Africa and also identified challenges that are faced by women who use traditional medicine in antenatal care. A systematic exploratory review was conducted guided by the PRISMA framework. The databases that were searched included Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane, HINARI and the World Health Organization. Forty-one literature sources were eligible and included in the review process. Reported traditional medicine utilisation ranged between 12 and 93% among pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Different types of traditional medicines have been utilised in Sub-Saharan Africa for different purposes. Safety and poor management of usage were reported to be some of the challenges associated with traditional medicine. There is a need to determine chemical components and mode of action of these herbs as some could be beneficial, whilst others harmful, leading to severe pregnancy complications.

The implementation of post breast cancer surgery physical therapy instructions for patients―A case study of Israeli medical centers

That patients undergoing breast cancer (BC) surgery need instruction post-surgery has been well described in the literature. Therefore, new off and online patient instructions have been developed and made available in Israel. This study aimed to evaluate the degree to which these instructions reach patients in Israeli medical centers and reasons for use or non-use. A case study. The study population were managers of physical therapy services in Israeli medical centers. Telephone interviews, using a semi structured questionnaire, were recorded and transcribed. The research team summarized and discussed the issues raised. Managers of physical therapy service or representative from 18 public medical centers were interviewed. All medical centers employ a full or part time physical therapist in their surgical wards and all except one provide some pre-discharge instructions to all or to selected women after BC surgery. Nine interviewees think that the new instruction is suitable as is. Disagreeing opinions were that the content is too long and not suitable for all patients. In medical centers with strong interdisciplinary cooperation there is greater use of the new instruction. Online distribution of instruction to the managers of the PT services in medical centers helped encourage their use. Instruction promotion can be increased through interdisciplinary cooperation, educational seminars, staff meetings and electronic media.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Family Planning Among the Currently Married Women of Reproductive Age of Shivasatakshi Municipality Jhapa District, Nepal

This study examines the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Family Planning among the Currently Married Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 Years); a case study of Shivasatakshi Municipaity Jhapa district is based on primary data successfully collected from sample survey, covering 100 sample respondents` from 100 sample households. The main objective of the study is to fine out the knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning methods among currently married women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) and the specific objective of the study are to study the socio-economic and demographic determinants of currently use of family planning method and to identify the reason the reason for use and non-use of family planning. Out of 100 sample respondents 83 percent women are literate and 17 percent are illiterate. The major occupations of the respondents are agriculture and services. Among currently married women, 99 percent of respondents are found to be familiar with at least one family planning method. Out of total respondents, 91 percents are ever uses and 92 percent are currently using family planning methods. There is strongly positive relationship existed between use of family planning method and socio-economic and demographic variables like educational status of women and number pf living children. Easily accessible and no side effect are main reasons for using family planning method. Desire for and husband and family’s disagreement are most important reason for not using family planning method.

Monitoring Australian parents' shifting receptiveness to digital mental health interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nascent evidence indicates that the mental health of parents and children has markedly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering disruptions to traditional face-to-face mental health services resultant from stay-at-home orders, the potential value of digital mental health interventions has become extremely apparent. Despite this, uptake of digital interventions remains poor, indicating that a better understanding is needed of factors that determine a willingness to use digital platforms. The present multi-wave, longitudinal study of 2365 Australian parents explored between-person and within-person predictors of intentions to use digital interventions during the pandemic. More than one-third of parents reported likely use of a self-guided and therapist-guided digital intervention, with the most endorsed reason for use being to support their child's mental health. Between-person baseline predictors of higher intention ratings were parent's prior mental illness, not living with a partner and recent environmental stressors. Within-person predictors of higher intention ratings were endorsement of mindful parenting strategies, child access to the Internet, better perceived management of child's education, lower social support and financial hardship. Findings demonstrate that willingness to engage in digital interventions fluctuates in response to changing circumstances. Identifying novel ways to increase acceptance and uptake of digital interventions based on modifiable predictors established here is needed to realize the full potential of these modes of care in times of need.

Reasons for cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation: a qualitative study.

Background:Cannabis use among pregnant and lactating people is increasing, despite clinical evidence showing that cannabis use may be associated with low birth weight and childhood developmental deficits. Our objective was to understand why pregnant and lactating people use cannabis and how these motivations change across perinatal stages.Methods:Using qualitative, constructivist grounded theory methodology, we conducted telephone and virtual interviews with 52 individuals from across Canada. We selected participants using maximum variation and theoretical sampling. They were eligible if they had been pregnant or lactating within the past year and had decided to continue, cease or decrease their cannabis use during the perinatal period.Results:We identified 3 categories of reasons that people use cannabis during pregnancy and lactation: sensation-seeking for fun and enjoyment; symptom management of chronic conditions and conditions related to pregnancy; and coping with the unpleasant, but nonpathologized, experiences of life. Before pregnancy, participants endorsed reasons for using cannabis in these 3 categories in similar proportions, with many offering multiple reasons for use. During pregnancy, reasons for use shifted primarily to symptom management. During lactation, reasons returned to resemble those expressed before pregnancy.Interpretation:In this study, we showed that pregnant and lactating people use cannabis for many reasons, particularly for symptom management. Reasons for cannabis use changed across reproductive stages. The dynamic nature of the reasons for use across stages speaks to participant perception of benefits and risks, and perhaps a desire to cast cannabis use during pregnancy as therapeutic because of perceived stigma.

Reasons for Using Heated Tobacco Products among South Korean Adults

AbstractBackground: This study assessed the reasons for using heated tobacco products (HTPs) among South Korean adults according to demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: An online panel survey was conducted from November 3 to 9, 2018, including 7,000 adults (4,700 females, 2,300 males) from 70,000 age-, sex-, and provincial-distributionmatched individuals, based on the 2018 national population statistics. Females were oversampled because their tobacco use prevalence was low. The reasons for using HTPs were investigated and ranked according to age, sex, education level, monthly income, and current HTP usage status. Descriptive statistics were then presented as unweighted numbers and weighted percentages. Results: Of the 7,000 participants, 944 (16.8%) were ever HTP users. The most common reasons for using HTPs among ever HTP users were as follows: “no ash is formed (74.8%)” and “it has less odor than conventional cigarettes (71.9%).” Current HTP users responded with higher percentages for all the reasons, compared to former HTP users. HTP having “less odor than conventional cigarettes” was the most important reason for younger smokers (20-34 years old) compared with those of other age groups. No significant differences were observed in the order of reasons for HTP use between males and females. People with higher education used HTPs to “reduce conventional cigarette use” (41.4% vs. 30.9%), and people with higher income (over monthly income of 7000K won) used HTPs as it produced “less odor than conventional cigarettes” (77.2%). Conclusion: In South Korea, the most important reason for HTP use among current HTP users is the absence of ash and odor.Keywords : Heat not burn tobacco products; Socioeconomic factors; Republic of Korea

Community Members and Dentist Perceptions for Oral Treatment Seeking Behavior in an Underprivileged Area: A Qualitative Study

Background: Antibiotic resistance affects generations. It is a major health issue. Resistance to antibiotics is on the rise globally. The absence of proper regulatory mechanism and free access to pharmaceutical agents have led to self-medication and inappropriate therapeutic and
 prophylactic prescription.
 Methods: Qualitative in-depth research was conducted using focus group discussions (FGDs) for data collection. The study was conducted in an underprivileged colony in Karachi, Pakistan. Community members and Dentist were part of the focus group discussion.
 Results: There were two major themes that emerged from the analysis. ‘Knowledge associated with common oral diseases and their consequences’ and ‘Home remedies and treatment seeking behavior’. The focus group discussions showed that the perceptions of community members and dentists was based on bad oral hygiene, lack of awareness of oral disease outcome and barriers in pursuing treatment by dentist There was a lack of Government healthcare facilities and poor professional attitudes and futile law enforcement regarding medicine dispensing and disposal.
 Conclusion: The value of this study is to understand the perceptions and determinants of health seeking behavior and recognize the reasons for use and misuse of antibiotics. There is a great need for Government intervention and inexpensive treatment for the masses.

Gendered Pronouns in Chinese EL2 Speech: The Case of Epicene Pronouns

This paper presents an exploratory study on the usage of epicene pronouns in the speech of Chinese EL2 students, who were undertaking a Master’s programme in the UK. The reasons for speakers’ use or non-use of epicene pronouns is also explored to provide a fuller picture of the speakers’ usage as well as their perceptions of gender-inclusive pronouns. An elicitation based speaking task was used to gather epicene pronoun usage. This was followed by a semi-structured interview utilizing stimulated recall techniques to gather data on the participants’ reasons for use or non-use of epicene pronouns as well as their perceptions of gender-inclusive pronouns. The findings showed that singular they was the epicene pronoun used most often, with the reason being that the participants were imagining a group of people. The avoidance strategy employed most often by participants was usage of the pronoun you, and the participants’ reasoning was that it made the response more personal for the listener. Regarding the different antecedent types, there was a higher number of avoidance strategies used with notionally plural antecedents. On the other hand, notionally singular antecedents were found to have a higher number of epicene pronouns used. For EL2 educators, these findings can inform the introduction of epicene pronouns to students.

Optimizing Images for an E-Cigarette Messaging Campaign: Liking and Perceived Effectiveness.

Introduction: Given the prevalence of electronic vapor product (EVP) use among young people in the US, there is a need for effective vaping education campaigns. This study tested 32 images for liking and perceived effectiveness (PE) to identify optimal images for a messaging campaign. Method: Images were selected from current campaigns, warning labels, and other images based on young adult reasons for use. Images were coded for the presence of (1) people, (2) vapor, (3) device, (4) color, and (5) similarity to warning label image. Young adults (n = 200) were recruited from the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform. Participants were randomly assigned to view and rate six of the 32 images on liking as well as PE, which measured the potential impact of the image to discourage vaping appeal and use. Results: Images containing vapor and/or a device or e-liquid were not well-liked but were perceived as effective in discouraging vaping (ps < 0.05). Images from warning labels were also not well-liked but were perceived as significantly more effective than those not from a warning (p < 0.01). Liking and effectiveness of features was similar for both EVP users and non-users. Discussion: Images with specific features were rated as less likable but rated as higher on PE. However, the consistency of image features rated as effective by EVP users and non-users supports the utility of similar imagery for vaping prevention and reduction efforts.

172. Inpatient Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns Using the WHO Access Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) Classification in Okinawa, Japan: A Point Prevalence Survey

BackgroundFew studies have been done on inpatient antibiotic use in Japan and antibiotic stewardship programs with dedicated full-time equivalents are rare. We sought to better understand inpatient antibiotic use in Okinawa, Japan. We applied the World Health Organization (WHO) Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) Classification to compare our findings to international literature. Access antibiotics are common front-line antibiotics, Watch antibiotics are high-priority antibiotics with toxicity or resistance concerns, and Reserve antibiotics are last-line treatments for multi-drug resistant infections.MethodsA point prevalence study was conducted in five hospitals in Okinawa, Japan on Oct 1, 2020. Physicians conducted chart reviews of all patients receiving intravenous antibiotics. Type of antibiotic, reason for use, duration, and microbiologic data was collected. The primary aim was to evaluate the proportion of patients who received antibiotics on the assessment date; secondary aims were to categorize antibiotics according to indication, class and AWaRe classification. Descriptive statistics were used to derive the distribution of AWaRe Classifications and drug class.Results1,728 unique patients were included and 504 (29%) received ≥1 antibiotic on the assessment date. A total of 559 antibiotics were used for 504 patients and 22.0% (n=123) were for prophylaxis. Of those receiving antibiotics for treatment (N=436), 385 (88.3%) patients had a documented infection source. The most common indications for antibiotic use were pneumonia (24.2% n=93), urinary tract infection (19.7% n=76), and intraabdominal (17.9% n=69). Overall, 43.1% (n=241) of the antibiotics were categorized Access and 54.4% (n=304) Watch [Figure 1]. Cephalosporins were the most common antibiotic class (56% n=313), followed by β-lactam inhibitors (18% n=106) and narrow penicillins (8.2% n=46) [Figure 2].Conclusion29% of inpatients in these 5 Okinawan hospitals were prescribed an antibiotic on the survey date. A majority of antibiotics used fall under the WHO AWaRe Watch classification which are antibiotics that may be more likely to cause resistance. Understanding appropriateness of antibiotics used in this population could inform antibiotic stewardship strategies and reduce antibiotic resistance.Figure 1. Antibiotic Distribution According to World Health Organization (WHO) Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) Classification Figure 2. Antibiotic Distribution by Class in Okinawan Hospitals Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

A Study on Millennials and Generation Z’s Attitude and Usage of E-Transaction and Mobile wallets in Mumbai

Abstract: Technology has played a vital role in uniting people across country. It has simplified many complexities with simple click using internet. The usage of smart phones is high among the millennials and generation Z and has become an integral part of their everyday lives. Millennials are generation which are born between 1980 to 2000, and generation Z is the demographic cohort succeeding millennials. Millennials and Gen. Z have witnessed the metamorphosis from traditional method of using paper currencies to e-wallets. This rise of e-transaction has smoothened the various transactions like online shopping, payment on dues etc. with just one single click. The present study aims to figure out how mobile wallets and e-transactions are evolving among the above mentioned sample. It also analyses the dimensions of the usage by analysing key factors such as motive for use, utility derived from use, level of use, reasons for use amongst others. Also the future proximity of e-transaction and mobile wallet’s usage is forecasted. Descriptive analysis and Regression analysis was run on the primary data obtained from 115 respondents through a structured questionnaire. The results were able to throw distinctive insights into the usage of mobile wallets and e-transactions among Millennials and Gen Z. Keywords: Millennials, generation Z, tech savvy, digital natives, e-transactions, mobile wallets, online shopping etc.

Including the Reason for Use on Prescriptions Sent to Pharmacists: Scoping Review.

BackgroundIn North America, although pharmacists are obligated to ensure prescribed medications are appropriate, information about a patient’s reason for use is not a required component of a legal prescription. The benefits of prescribers including the reason for use on prescriptions is evident in the current literature. However, it is not standard practice to share this information with pharmacists.ObjectiveOur aim was to characterize the research on how including the reason for use on a prescription impacts pharmacists.MethodsWe performed an interdisciplinary scoping review, searching literature in the fields of health care, informatics, and engineering. The following databases were searched between December 2018 and January 2019: PubMed, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), International Pharmaceutical s (IPA), and EMBASE.ResultsA total of 3912 potentially relevant articles were identified, with 9 papers meeting the inclusion criteria. The studies used different terminology (eg, indication, reason for use) and a wide variety of study methodologies, including prospective and retrospective observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and qualitative interviews and focus groups. The results suggest that including the reason for use on a prescription can help the pharmacist catch more errors, reduce the need to contact prescribers, support patient counseling, impact communication, and improve patient safety. Reasons that may prevent prescribers from adding the reason for use information are concerns about workflow and patient privacy.ConclusionsMore research is needed to understand how the reason for use information should be provided to pharmacists. In the limited literature to date, there is a consensus that the addition of this information to prescriptions benefits patient safety and enables pharmacists to be more effective. Future research should use an implementation science or theory-based approach to improve prescriber buy-in and, consequently, adoption.

Reasons for Preoperative Opioid Use Are Associated with Persistent Use following Surgery Among Patients Undergoing Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Objective Most studies on preoperative opioid use only describe whether or not patients use opioids without characterizing reasons for use. Knowing why patients use opioids can help inform perioperative opioid management. The objective of this study was to explore pain specific reasons for preoperative opioid use prior to total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) and their association with persistent use. Methods This is a prospective study of 197 patients undergoing THA (n = 99) or TKA (n = 98) enrolled in the Analgesic Outcomes Study between December 2015 and November 2018. All participants reported preoperative opioid use. Results Reasons for preoperative opioid use were categorized as surgical site pain only (81 [41.1%]); pain in other body areas only (22 [11.2%]); and combined pain (94 [47.7%]). Compared to patients taking opioids for surgical site pain, those with combined reasons for use had 1.24 (P = .40) and 2.28 (P = .16) greater odds of persistent use at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, adjusting for relevant covariates. Conclusions This study provides novel insights into the heterogeneity of reasons for presurgical opioid use in patients undergoing a THA or TKA. One key take away is that not all preoperative opioid use is the same and many patients are taking opioids preoperatively for more than just pain at the surgical site. Combined reasons for use was associated with long-term use, suggesting nonsurgical pain, in part, drives persistent opioid use after surgery. Future directions in perioperative care should focus on pain and non-pain reasons for presurgical opioid use to create tailored postoperative opioid weaning plans.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Prostate Cancer among African Americans, African Immigrants and Caribbean Immigrants.

Black men have the highest rate of prostate cancer (PCa) morbidity and mortality in the US, and often receive delayed and/or poorer-quality treatment. This inequity has led many to turn to complementary and alternative medicine/therapies (CAM). However, little is known about the use of these therapies within the Black community. The purpose of this study was to describe types of CAM therapies used, and the reasons behind their use for overall health and PCa treatment and prevention among three groups of Black males, namely African Americans, Caribbean Immigrants and African Immigrants. This study used a mixed-methods design with a quantitative phase (n = 575) followed by a qualitative phase (n = 61) with participants recruited from various parts of the country. Results revealed differences among subgroups in CAM use for overall health and PCa, as well as differences in the types of CAM therapies used and differences in the reasons behind their use. The findings of this study reveal a prevalence of CAM use for overall health and PCa within three different groups of Black men and identifies the specific CAM used. There were significant differences in the types of CAM used by each subgroup for both overall health and PCa. This study also shows that there is value in looking at Black subgroups distinctively, for their rates of CAM use and reasons for use, are distinctly different.

Role of Directional Configuration in Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor: A Single Center Experience.

Background:Traditionally, the standard of care for medication refractory essential tremor has been to utilize omnidirectional deep brain stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus. The advent of directional stimulation allows for spatial restriction of the stimulation on selected targets without involving the neighboring structures, thereby limiting off-target side effects and improving clinical utility.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of patients between February 2017 and September 2019 who had received ventral intermediate nucleus deep brain stimulation that allowed for directional programming (specifically Abbott/St. Jude). Initial and final major programming sessions post-operatively (approximately 30- and 90-days post-surgery) were examined to determine frequency and reason for use of directional programming.Results:A total of 33 total patients were identified. A little over half were males (58%, N = 19), with an average age of 68 years old (SD 9.3) at the time of surgery, and a disease duration of almost 30 years (27.2, SD 19) with a wide range from 2–62 years. After initial programming, over 50% (17 of 33) of patients were using directional configurations. This increased to 85% (28 of 33) at the 90-day programming. Reasons for conversion to directional configuration included avoidance of side effects (specifically, muscle contractions (9/33), paresthesia (5/33), dysarthria (1/33) and gait ataxia (1/33)) or improved tremor control (12/33).Discussion:Our single-center experience suggests that in the large majority of cases, directional leads were utilized and offered advantages in tremor control or side effect avoidance.

Pain medication use in youth athletes: A cross‐sectional study of 466 youth handball players

The aim of this study was to determine the 4-week prevalence of pain medication use in youth athletes, the type of medication used, the reasons for use, and from where the athletes obtained the medication. 466 handball players (aged 14-18) were surveyed about their pain medication use within the preceding 4 weeks. The questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: type of pain medication used (if any; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen/paracetamol, and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)), the reasons for use, and from where it was obtained. 190 players (41% [95% CI 36%-45%]) reported pain medication use within the last 4 weeks. Paracetamol was the most reported type (n = 157, 83% [95% CI 77%-88%]), followed by NSAIDs (n = 98, 52% [95% CI 44%-59%]); 67 reported “injury-related reasons” for their use, and most participants reported to obtain the pain medication via “from home or bought over-the-counter (OTC)” (n = 167, 88% [95% CI 82%-92%]). Pain medication use in youth handball players is common, particularly among female players, and a substantial proportion of the overall use is due to injury-related reasons. The vast majority of the players got their pain medication from home or purchased it OTC. Further research is needed to comprehend these patterns of use, including the long-term use.

More Reasons, More Use and Problems? Examining the Influence of Number of Motives on Consumption and Consequences Across Alcohol-Only, Cannabis-Only, and Simultaneous-Use Days

Alcohol and cannabis use as well as their simultaneous use are common among U.S. college students. Reasons for use are proximal predictors of consumption and consequences. Little research has examined possible adverse effects of endorsing multiple motives on a given use day. We examined the effects of the number of motives on consumption and negative consequences for alcohol-only, cannabis-only, and simultaneous-use days. College students (N = 341; 53% women; mean age = 19.79 years) who reported past-month simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use completed 54 days of data collection. We used generalized linear mixed-effects models to examine the effects of endorsing multiple motives on consumption and consequences. Across models, endorsing more motives than typical on a given use day (within person) and more motives in general (between person) was related to greater alcohol and cannabis consumption. Endorsing more alcohol-only motives and cannabis-only motives than typical resulted in greater odds of experiencing a negative consequence when accounting for consumption. This within-person effect was not statistically significant for simultaneous-use motives/consequences. Endorsing a greater number of motives across the study (i.e., between person) was not significantly related to consequences beyond consumption. Research has documented the robust effects of specific motives on substance use outcomes. Our novel findings extend this work by demonstrating the risks associated with endorsing multiple motives on a given use day. In addition to motive type, we recommend that the number of motives endorsed on a given day be considered as a potential risk factor to be targeted to reduce harms associated with substance use.