Normative perceptions of non-medical stimulant use: Associations with actual use and hazardous drinking

Abstract

Approximately 10% of US college students are engaged in non-medical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) and that use is linked to concerning health, educational, and societal consequences. Few studies have assessed normative perceptions surrounding NMUPS. Accordingly, we examined self-reported use and normative perceptions for NMUPS and demographic factors that may be associated with them. We also investigated whether higher normative perceptions for NMUPS were related to the most commonly used and abused substance among college students (alcohol). METHOD 1106 undergraduates participated in an online survey of normative perceptions of NMUPS and students’ own drinking and stimulant use habits. RESULTS Students overestimated NMUPS by other students and those normative estimates were associated with higher NMUPS. Living in a fraternity or sorority was related to higher NMUPS and perceived norms. Finally, higher normative perceptions of NMUPS were associated with higher hazardous drinking. CONCLUSION The large discrepancy between actual use (generally low) and students’ perceptions (generally high), and the relationship of these perceptions to both one’s own use of NMUPS and alcohol suggests that interventions aimed at correcting norms may be useful.

Personal and perceived peer use and attitudes towards use of non-prescribed prescription sedatives and sleeping pills among university students in seven European countries

“…In our study, an association between perceived injunctive norms of peers and students' personal approval of using NPPSSP was found for all countries participating in the SNIPE project, except for the UK, with its comparatively small sample size. The findings of this study align with previous observations that university students' exaggerated perceptions of peer norms also exist for prescription substances which are less commonly used and socially accepted than, for example alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis (Helmer, et al, 2016;Kilmer, et al, 2015;McCabe, 2008;Perkins, et al, 1999;Sanders, et al, 2014;Silvestri & Correia, 2016).…”

“…Several studies have examined misperceptions or self-other discrepancies about the non-medical use of prescription drugs, as well as associations between descriptive norms and personal use, particularly regarding prescription stimulants (Helmer, et al, 2016;Kilmer, Geisner, Gasser, & Lindgren, 2015;McCabe, 2008;Sanders, Stogner, Seibert, & Miller, 2014;Silvestri & Correia, 2016), with only one study, to date, investigating prescription sedative use (Sanders, et al, 2014).…”

Perceived Attitudes About Substance Use in Anonymous Social Media Posts Near College Campuses: Observational Study

“…This use has expanded the social network of young adults, and online platforms may have more influence on their substance use than actual in-person interactions [ 5 , 6 ]. Historically, college students have perceived that their peers used substances more than they actually do [ 7 - 9 ]. As such, exposure to substance use via social media may normalize the use for some young adults by presenting it in a positive light, potentially providing a skewed perspective compared to the actual behavior of most college-aged persons.…”

The impact of military service and traumatic brain injury on the substance use norms of Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers and their spouses

“…Parental substance use, childhood perceptions of parental norms, and individual and friends’ norms all contribute to an increased likelihood of marijuana and alcohol use [24]. Research on prescription drug norms has found individuals to overestimate peers’ misuse [33]. …”