141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281417
Factors associated with non-medical abuse of prescription drugs among college students

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Nichole Snyder, BS , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Blake Barrett, MSPH , Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa
Kathleen Moore, PhD , Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa
Lawrence Schonfeld, PhD , Department of Aging and Mental Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Background: College-aged adults are at an increased risk for non-medical prescription drug abuse. The current study examines the differences in risk factors and health outcomes by type of prescription drug abuse in a college population. Method: A secondary data analysis of the Spring 2011 National College Health Assessment at the University of South Florida was conducted (N =1,146). Non-medical prescription drug abusers were categorized into four subgroups based upon past year use of any: prescription drug (n=146; 12.6%), opioids (n=79; 6.8%), sedatives (n=53; 4.6%), and stimulants (n=73; 7.3%). Separate, backwards stepwise multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the characteristics associated with any use and the different classes of non-medical prescription drug use. Results: Bivariate analyses indicated that, overall, non-medical prescription drug abusers were more likely to concurrently use other substances, have co-occurring mental health problems, and experience negative academic impacts because of these factors. While multivariate analyses mirrored these bivariate trends, some differences emerged across models predicting each of the types of non-medical prescription drug abuse in the past year. The non-medical abuse of prescription stimulants for studying purposes emerged as a particularly salient factor. Conclusions: Across study models predicting each of the types of non-medical prescription drug abuse in the past year, significant associations were found related to comorbid substance use and mental health conditions. Study results also demonstrate the heterogeneity of characteristics associated with non-medical prescription drug abuse across the different classes of prescription drugs.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify characteristics associated with non-medical prescription drug abuse among college students. Discuss the unique risk profiles by class of prescription drug abuse among college students. Discuss potential avenues for primary, secondary and tertiary non-medical prescription drug abuse prevention efforts among college students.

Keywords: Prescription Drug Use Patterns, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a graduate student in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida in the Department of Community Family, focusing on behavioral health issues. My work focuses on behavioral health issues, particularly substance abuse and the non-medical abuse of prescription drugs, among adolescents, college students and young adults more broadly. I am also a scholar within a NIDA grant-funded graduate certificate program in translational research in adolescent behavioral health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.