An Exploratory Study of Substance Use and Misuse Among College Students With and Without ADHD and Other Disabilities

Abstract

Students with disabilities compared to those without disabilities differed on levels of sensation seeking and alcohol and marijuana use.

Prescription Stimulant Misuse and ADHD Symptomatology Among College Students in Iceland

“…Within the group without a current prescription for stimulant medication, results revealed participants endorsing having some form of a disability were not significantly more or less likely than participants without disabilities to disclose a history of stimulant misuse. These findings are similar to those reported by Janusis and Weyandt (2010) who found that this same pattern of results emerged when students holding a current prescription for stimulant medication were included in the analyses. The current findings should be interpreted with caution, however, as results suggested significant heterogeneity of variance across groups.…”

“…The non-medical use or misuse of stimulants, usually defined as taking stimulants without a valid prescription or greater use of stimulants than as prescribed (Benson et al, 2015;Weyandt et al, 2013b), has soared among university students since the beginning of the century (Babcock & Byrne, 2000;DeSantis, Noar, & Webb, 2010;DuPont, Coleman, Bucher, & Wilford, 2008;Dussault & Weyandt, 2013;Hall, Irwin, Bowman, Frankenberger, & Jewett, 2005;Janusis & Weyandt, 2010;Judson & Langdon, 2009;Low & Gendaszek, 2002;Messina et al, 2014;McCabe et al, 2005;McCabe, West, Teter, & Boyd, 2014;Rabiner et al, 2009;Sharp & Rosen, 2007;Verdi, Weyandt, & Zavras, 2014;Weyandt et al, 2009;White, Becker-Blease & Grace-Bishop, 2006 A systematic review of the literature conducted by Weyandt and colleagues (2013) revealed that several reasons for misusing prescription stimulants have been reported, chief among them being cognitive and academic enhancement. More specifically, college students who disclose engaging in stimulant misuse report doing so while studying (e.g., preparing for exams, writing papers) to increase their attention and alertness, and thus improve their academic performance.…”

An Examination of Prescription Stimulant Misuse and Psychological Variables Among Sorority and Fraternity College Populations

“…For instance, a recent study conducted by Weyandt et al (2009) found that participants who reported higher rates of nonmedical stimulant use also reported higher rates of psychological distress specifically related to somatization, obsessions, compulsions, sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobia, paranoia, and psychoticism. A study by Janusis and Weyandt (2010) found a relationship between stress and nonmedical stimulant use among college students with disabilities. Results indicated that students with disabilities who reported a higher level of stress also reported a higher level of stimulant misuse (Janusis & Weyandt, 2010).…”

Missed opportunities: childhood learning disabilities as early indicators of risk among homeless adults with mental illness in Vancouver, British Columbia

“…10 Research examining substance abuse among youth with LD remains inconclusive. 13 Beitchman et al 11 assessed 264 Canadian children for LD at ages 12 and 19, and for psychiatric and substance use disorders at age 19. Children who met criteria for LD at ages 12 and 19 were more likely to develop a psychiatric or substance use disorder compared with non-LD children at both time points.…”