Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants to help study among U.S. high school seniors

2014 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. e138-e139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean E. McCabe ◽  
C.G. DiRaimo ◽  
J.P. Grayson ◽  
B.T. West ◽  
C.J. Teter
2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian J. Teter ◽  
Christopher G. DiRaimo ◽  
Brady T. West ◽  
Ty S. Schepis ◽  
Sean Esteban McCabe

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.


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 1045-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia M. Arria ◽  
Kevin E. O'Grady ◽  
Kimberly M. Caldeira ◽  
Kathryn B. Vincent ◽  
Eric D. Wish

Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and analgesics was assessed from personal interviews with a stratified random sample of 1,253 first-year college students ages 17 to 20 attending a large public university (86% response rate). Lifetime and past-year prevalence of nonmedical use of stimulants, analgesics, or both was 19.6%wt and 15.6%wt, respectively. Nonmedical users had significantly lower grade point averages (GPAs) in high school as compared with nonusers; in college they skipped classes more often, spent more time socializing, and spent less time studying. For example, nonmedical users of both stimulants and analgesics skipped 21 % of their college classes whereas nonusers skipped 9%. Controlling for high school GPA and other factors, past-year nonmedical use independently predicted lower college GPA by the end of the first year of college; this effect was partially mediated by skipping more classes. Nonmedical users of prescription drugs comprise a high-risk group for academic problems in college.


2018 ◽  
pp. 16-26
Author(s):  
Sean Esteban McCabe ◽  
Brady T. West ◽  
Phil Veliz ◽  
Vita V. McCabe ◽  
Sarah A. Stoddard ◽  
...  

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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