Patterns and Knowledge of Nonmedical Use of Stimulants Among College Students

Abstract

A substantial proportion of college students in this sample were using nonprescribed stimulants. Among nonusers, those whose peers use nonprescribed stimulants were much more knowledgeable about the effects of stimulant use than those whose peers do not use stimulants. This knowledge may confer an increased risk of future nonmedical stimulant use if students become tempted to seek the beneficial effects experienced by their peers.

Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use Among a Sample of College Students

“…Indeed, the results of the present study are consistent with previous research documenting the misuse of prescription stimulants on college campuses (Carroll et al, 2006;Sharp & Rosen, 2007). In the current study, 7.5% of the participants reported using stimulants without a valid prescription within the past 30 days, and 9.3% of the participants reported using stimulants but not within the past 12 months.…”

Medicate to Graduate: Academic Strain and Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use Among Graduate and Undergraduate Students

“…Based on 1,121 respondents, roughly 98 (8.71%) indicated they had misused over the previous year. This is consistent with previous estimates of stimulant misuse (Carroll et al, 2006; DeSantis et al, 2008; DuPont et al, 2008; McCabe et al, 2005; McCabe, Teter, & Boyd, 2006; Teter et al, 2005). To emphasize, the focus of this analysis is on the misuse of prescription stimulants.…”

Persistent Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among College Students: Possible Association With ADHD Symptoms

“…The finding that ADHD symptoms were associated with NPS is consistent with prior evidence showing that a primary motive for NPS is to enhance concentration or wakefulness while studying (Carroll et al, 2006; DeSantis et al, 2009; DuPont et al, 2008; Prudhomme-White et al, 2006; Rabiner et al, 2009b). The idea that students with untreated ADHD symptoms might experience this motive more intensely than other students is intuitively appealing.…”