Non-medical use of prescription drugs is more frequent in college students than the use of any other illicit drug only behind marijuana (Arria). Campus health professionals and administrators should address the widespread availability and perceived safety that make them particularly enticing to college students. Lifetime and past-year prevalence of nonmedical use of stimulants and/or analgesics is 19.6% and 15.6% for college students respectively (Arria). Common side effects of use are headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and addiction. Less common side effects are high blood pressure, paranoia, depression, and even sudden death (DeSantis). Contrary to popular belief, both high school and college GPAs were significantly lower among all nonmedical users as compared to nonusers (Arria).
While every study found at least some level of prevalence of the use of illicit use of ADHD Drugs, that prevalence varied from a low of about 4% to a high of about 35%. This could be due to many confounding factors such as geographic location, or the section of the student population that was studied. Along with this we found possible selection bias in several of the studies as well. In the study conducted by DeSantis et al there were specific populations (Greek houses, communication majors) that were surveyed so this could have created a bias towards these populations as well. Another issue is the generalizability of the findings in these studies to different universities across the United States. The most complete representation we found is in the study by McCabe et al that surveyed students at 119, 4-year universities across the United States. While this is certainly more generalizable than the study by DeSantis that looked at only one university, it will still not be generalizable to every university in the United States.
Due to at least some level of prevalence being found at every university studied, our recommendation is that all universities should research their campus to find the prevalence of illicit use of ADHD medications and how it is affecting their students. This could be done through surveys or other means of collecting data, and will allow them to tailor a response to fit their student population.
The primary motivations for illicit stimulant use found by Judson and Langdon were to improve concentration, increase alertness, and improve academic performance. Found to have an association with non-prescribed use are low concerns about adverse health effects and ethics of use, higher perceived positive social norms, and past considerations of having ADHD. This information could be used as a guideline for what universities could be asking their students, or what to be looking for when they investigate illicit use of ADHD prescription drugs at their schools.
References:
Arria, A (2008). Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants and Analgesics: Associations with Social and Academic Behaviors among College Students. Pharmacotherapy. 2008 FALL; 38(4): 10451060.
DeSantis, A. D., Webb, E. M., Noar, S. M. (2010) Illicit Use of Prescription ADHD Medications on a College Campus: A Multimethodological Approach. Journal of American College Health. Vol. 57(3) 315-323.
Judson, Rachel and Langdon, Susan W. (2009). Illicit Use of Prescription Stimulants Among College Students: Prescription Status, Motives, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Knowledge and Self-Diagnostic Tendencies. Psychology, Health & Medicine. Vol. 14, No. 1, January 2009, 97104. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
McCabe, Sean E., Knight, John R., Teter, Christian J., & Wechsler, Henry. (2004). Non-Medical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among US College Students: Prevalence and Correlates from a National Survey. Addiction. Vol. 99, 96-106. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
Disclosure:
This video was created for a class project in FCM 8420 Epidemiology at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Spring 2010.
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Mother arrested for encouraging daughter to fightby ABCActionNews5,951,373 views
@gaggedsociety
He said they can be very dangerous if taken without a prescription. The prescription protects you from the evil ADHD drug curse.. without it.. instant death. a slow, long term.. sometimes 80 or so years later, instant death.
evilsinzy 11 months ago
INSOMNIA, possibly even DEATH. this is some bullshit. You cant protect people from themselves.
gaggedsociety 1 year ago