Medical and Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants by High School Seniors

Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAA

Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants was associated with other substance abuse behaviors.

National studies assessing the relation between medical and nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and other drug use are lacking. Investigators examined this issue in a multiracial/ethnic sample of 4500 12th-grade students (modal age, 18 years; 50% female) from the 2010 and 2011 Monitoring the Future surveys.

Overall, 9% of seniors reported lifetime medical use (with a doctor's prescription) of stimulants; 9% reported some nonmedical use (without a prescription); and 6% reported nonmedical use exclusively. Among students who were ever prescribed stimulants, 59% reported medical use only; 23% reported medical use before nonmedical use; and 18% reported nonmedical use before medical use. Nonmedical use was highest among racial/ethnic groups other than black or Hispanic (12%), followed by whites (11%), Hispanics (6%), and blacks (3%). Compared with students reporting no stimulant use, those reporting medical use only were significantly more likely to use other illicit drugs but not more likely to smoke cigarettes, binge drink, use marijuana, or report nonmedical use of other prescription medications. Students reporting nonmedical use were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes, binge drink, or use marijuana, other illicit drugs, or report nonmedical use of other prescription drugs. Students who reported nonmedical use before medical use and those reporting nonmedical use only were at highest risk for substance use behavior.

Citation(s):

McCabe SE and West BT.Medical and nonmedical use of prescription stimulants: Results from a national multicohort study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2013 Dec; 52:1272.