Prescription Psychostimulant Use Among Young Adults: A Narrative Review of Qualitative Studies

Robitaille, Caroline; Collin, Johanne

doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.1110170

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…When they exclude medical users of ADHD medications as enhancemental users of ADHD medications, researchers are policing the boundary between medicine and enhancement. (p. 7)Whether for therapy or enhancement, the use of these drugs creates relations between pharmacological “objects” and their consumers (Greene & Sismondo, 2015; Hardon & Sanabria, 2017) embedded in contemporary values around achievement and normalcy (Robitaille & Collins, 2016; N. Rose, 2007b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Treatment Versus Enhancement: A Qualitative Study of Pharmacological Neuro-Enhancement Among Dutch and Lithuanian University Students

Hupli

Didziokaite

Ydema

2019

Contemporary Drug Problems

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This article examines the ambiguous relationship between treating illness and enhancing normalcy through the use of “cognitive enhancement” drugs. Although the literature on pharmacological neuro-enhancement generally differentiates between the “licit/therapeutic” and “illicit/enhancement” use of substances, in-depth interviews with 35 university students in the Netherlands and Lithuania—both with and without formal medical diagnoses of (mainly) Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—reveal the fluidity of these categories. Our study of the perceptions and experiences of people who use such drugs further suggests a much broader range of substances, motives, and sought-after effects than are commonly acknowledged in the “cognitive enhancement” literature. We need a more inclusive and context-sensitive approach to study pharmacological neuro-enhancement, for instance, by approaching both licit and illicit drugs as tools or instruments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Treatment Versus Enhancement: A Qualitative Study of Pharmacological Neuro-Enhancement Among Dutch and Lithuanian University Students

Hupli

Didziokaite

Ydema

2019

Contemporary Drug Problems

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“…Others find no effects of strain on illicit prescription drug use (Maahs, Weidner, & Smith, 2016). A review of qualitative studies suggests that the nonmedical use of psychostimulants is seen as a tool to navigate stress, to maintain a socially acceptable standing within one's reference group, and to adhere to the performance ethic in North American and other Western societies (Robitaille & Collin, 2016). For example, studies found that CE-drugs are seen as a quick fix and a resource for coping with high demands (Forlini & Racine, 2009;Partridge, Bell, Lucke, & Hall, 2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

Nonmedical use of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement as response to chronic stress especially when social support is lacking

Sattler

2018

Stress and Health

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The nonmedical use of prescription drugs to improve cognitive performance has gained attention due to concerns over its social and political implications as well as side effects and long‐term health consequences. Some researchers expect a future trend of an instrumental use of drugs for cognitive enhancement (CE). Thus, getting insights about causes of CE‐drug consumption is warranted before the prevalence increases. Because perceived stress is ubiquitous in universities and may decrease cognitive performance, one reaction to cope with stress and its consequences might be the instrumental use of drugs for CE, especially if other resources, such as social support, are lacking. With a prospective design, randomly selected students from four German universities were invited to a web‐based survey and reinterviewed after 6 months (N = 2,203). Results show a 6‐month prevalence rate of self‐reported CE‐drug use of about 2%. Higher reported chronic stress is positively associated with CE‐drug use. Although social support has no main effect, stress‐buffering effects were found. In men with low stress, more support is associated with a higher chance of self‐reported CE‐drug use. These findings can inform intervention and prevention strategies such as changes in drug regulation or sensitizing (potential) users to unwanted health consequences.

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“…The present decision-making model needs to be considered in light of these interviewees describing their current or previous ADHD medicine intake to be consistent and not situation-based, i.e., not used to, e.g., maximise concentration for exams, such as reported by Fleishmann and Kalinski [ 33 ]. The factors performance and ambitions are essentially different from the non-medical use of prescription stimulants for non-medical matters as has previously been reported to occur in this age group (see, e.g., Robitaille and Collin [ 34 ]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Managing Complexity: Exploring Decision Making on Medication by Young Adults with ADHD

Druedahl

Sporrong

2018

Pharmacy

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Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) causes difficulties with hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Treatment of ADHD includes both medication and non-pharmacological options. Knowledge of treatment preferences by young adults with ADHD is sparse. The objective of this study was to explore the beliefs and experiences of young adults with ADHD related to their medication treatment decisions. Data were collected in Denmark in 2016 through a focus group and individual in-depth interviews. Conventional content analysis was used. Ten young adults with ADHD (22-to 29-year-old) participated. Three major themes were identified: (1) the patient’s right to choose concerning ADHD medicine; (2) the patient’s decision of whether or not to treat ADHD with medication; and (3) factors affecting the patient’s decision on whether to take ADHD medication or not. The latter theme contained 15 factors, which were distributed across three levels: individual, between-individuals, and societal. The dominant factors were increasing quality of life and improving oneself e.g., improving social skills. For counselling at the pharmacy and by prescribers, it is important to be aware of the different factors that affect young adult patients’ decisions on whether to take ADHD medication or not. This knowledge will aid to understand reasons for non-adherence and to determine appropriate treatment for the individual patient.

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Prescription Psychostimulant Use Among Young Adults: A Narrative Review of Qualitative Studies

Cited by 21 publications

References 65 publications

Beyond Treatment Versus Enhancement: A Qualitative Study of Pharmacological Neuro-Enhancement Among Dutch and Lithuanian University Students

Beyond Treatment Versus Enhancement: A Qualitative Study of Pharmacological Neuro-Enhancement Among Dutch and Lithuanian University Students

Nonmedical use of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement as response to chronic stress especially when social support is lacking

Managing Complexity: Exploring Decision Making on Medication by Young Adults with ADHD

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