Medical Use, Illicit Use and Diversion of Prescription Stimulant Medication

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with the illicit use of prescription stimulants and to assess the relationship between the medical and illicit use of prescription stimulants among undergraduate college students. A Web survey was self-administered by a random sample of 9,161 undergraduate students attending a large public midwestern university in the spring of 2003. A total of 8.1% reported lifetime illicit use of prescription stimulants and 5.4% reported past year illicit use. The number of undergraduate students who reported illicit use of prescription stimulants exceeded the number of students who reported medical use of prescription stimulants for ADHD. The leading sources of prescription stimulants for illicit use were friends and peers. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed several risk factors for illicit use of prescription stimulants such as being male, White, member of a social fraternity or sorority, Jewish religious affiliation, and lower grade point average. All of these characteristics were also related to medically prescribed use of prescription stimulants. Those who initiated medically prescribed use of prescription stimulants for ADHD in elementary school were generally not at increased risk for illicit use of prescription stimulants or other drugs during college as compared to those who were never prescribed stimulant medication. The present study provides evidence that the illicit use of prescription stimulants is a problem among undergraduate college students, and certain subgroups appear to be at heightened risk.

Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among College Students: Associations with Attention‐Deficit‐Hyperactivity Disorder and Polydrug Use

“…10 , 11 , 14, 31 , 32 The studies vary with respect to age range of the samples, response rates, and the types of stimulants assessed; however, several interesting and consistent findings have emerged and have been replicated in the present study. Consistent with earlier studies, 13 , 32 we found that NPS appears to be generally infrequent and sporadic, with the majority of NPS+ individuals using them less than 12 times in their lives (85.3%). We also found that most students nonmedically use stimulants "purposefully" as an academic aid, that is, to help them study or cram for exams and write papers.…”

“…We also found that most students nonmedically use stimulants "purposefully" as an academic aid, that is, to help them study or cram for exams and write papers. 11, 31 We also found that the overwhelming majority of college students obtain prescription stimulants from friends, who either have or do not have a legitimate prescription.13 , 33 Lastly, consistent with McCabe et al, 32 we find it noteworthy that the students taking prescribed ADHD medication were outnumbered by lifetime nonmedical users of prescription stimulants, at a ratio of nearly five to one (45 vs. 218).In this study, the proportion of lifetime nonmedical users who cited recreational reasons for use (i.e., getting high or staying awake to party) was somewhat lower than in previous reports, which yielded estimates ranging from 19.3% to 70%.11 , 13 , 20 , 33 Similarly, inhalation of stimulants (14.2% of lifetime nonmedical users) was also less prevalent in this study than elsewhere. Although these differences may be partially attributable to methodological differences in the wording of questions, mode of administration, or geographic differences; it seems noteworthy that the college student samples in these prior studies have all been considerably older, whereas the present sample was restricted to firstyear students aged 17 to 20.…”

Impulsive choice and environmental enrichment: Effects of d-amphetamine and methylphenidate

“…In humans, the use of psychostimulant treatment for ADHD may protect against the development of substance use disorders [12,49,52,91], especially if treatment is started in childhood [for a review, see 43]. Conversely, the present results may also suggest that use of psychostimulants by individuals without ADHD could increase the risk of substance abuse problems.…”

Oral administration of (±)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and (+)methamphetamine alters temperature and activity in rhesus macaques

“…The METH metabolite (+)amphetamine (which produces subjective and physiological effects in humans and other species that are highly similar to METH) is marketed for ADHD therapy (Adderall®). Perhaps unsurprisingly, amphetamines formulated for oral therapeutic use are frequently diverted for recreational use (McCabe et al, 2006(McCabe et al, ,2004Upadhyaya et al, 2005;Wilens et al, 2006;Wu et al, 2007).…”