Correlates of Nonmedical Use of Prescription Opioids in Middle and High School Adolescents: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVES Most US studies of national trends in medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids have focused on adults. Given the limited understanding in these trends among adolescents, we examine national trends in the medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids among high school seniors between 1976 and 2015. METHODS The data used for the study come from the Monitoring the Future study of adolescents. Forty cohorts of nationally representative samples of high school seniors (modal age 18) were used to examine self-reported medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids. RESULTS Lifetime prevalence of medical use of prescription opioids peaked in both 1989 and 2002 and remained stable until a recent decline from 2013 through 2015. Lifetime nonmedical use of prescription opioids was less prevalent and highly correlated with medical use of prescription opioids over this 40-year period. Adolescents who reported both medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids were more likely to indicate medical use of prescription opioids before initiating nonmedical use. CONCLUSIONS Prescription opioid exposure is common among US adolescents. Long-term trends indicate that one-fourth of high school seniors self-reported medical or nonmedical use of prescription opioids. Medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids has declined recently and remained highly correlated over the past 4 decades. Sociodemographic differences and risky patterns involving medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids should be taken into consideration in clinical practice to improve opioid analgesic prescribing and reduce adverse consequences associated with prescription opioid use among adolescents.

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Behavioral Health Risk Factors for Nonmedical Use of Prescription Opioids in Adolescence

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3529461 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Junhan Cho ◽

Lorraine I. Kelley-Quon ◽

Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis ◽

Afton Kechter ◽

Sarah Axeen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Prescription Opioids ◽

Health Risk Factors ◽

Nonmedical Use

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Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among US High School Students to Help Study: Results From a National Survey

Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/0897190018783887 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 38-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Christian J. Teter ◽

Christopher G. DiRaimo ◽

Brady T. West ◽

Ty S. Schepis ◽

Sean Esteban McCabe

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Academic Performance ◽

High School Students ◽

Binge Drinking ◽

High School Seniors ◽

National Study ◽

Grade Point ◽

Prescription Stimulants ◽

Study Results ◽

Nonmedical Use

Objective: Mixed findings exist regarding extent and efficacy of nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) for study enhancement (SE). This national study of US high school seniors examined NMUPS for SE and addressed risk/benefit questions: To what extent are students reporting NMUPS specifically for SE, and do these individuals demonstrate fewer problem behaviors and superior academic performance? Method: Total of 15 098 US students surveyed (2009-2015) and divided into 4 subgroups: (1) no past-year NMUPS (nonusers), (2) past-year NMUPS to help study (NMUPS-SE only), (3) past-year NMUPS for study/nonstudy motives (NMUPS-SE+ other), and (4) past-year NMUPS for nonstudy motives (NMUPS-nonSE only). Student characteristics (eg, grade point average [GPA]) and substance-related problems (eg, binge drinking) compared between subgroups. Results: Among students who reported past-year NMUPS (n = 781), 7.4% reported NMUPS-SE only, 40.9% NMUPS-SE+ other, and 51.7% NMUPS-nonSE only. Odds of binge drinking, cigarette smoking, marijuana, and opioid nonmedical use significantly higher among all NMUPS subgroups. GPAs significantly lower among subgroups reporting NMUPS nonstudy motives; did not differ between NMUPS-SE only and nonusers. Conclusions: 7% of US high school seniors engaged in NMUPS for SE only (0.4% total population). Findings indicate greater substance-related problems without superior academic performance among NMUPS-SE subgroups.

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