Cited by 80Opioid Use Disorder TreatmentSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesNeuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations

Sources of Prescription Medication Misuse Among Young Adults in the United States: The Role of Educational Status

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McCabe, Sean Esteban, Teter, Christian J., Boyd, Carol J., Wilens, Timothy E., Schepis, Ty S.·2018·The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined prescription drug misuse (PDM), sources of PDM, and substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms as a function of educational status among US young adults based on a large nationally representative sample. METHODS: Data from the 2009-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health came from a sample of 106,845 young adults aged 18-25 years. Respondents were categorized by educational status and PDM, sources of PDM, other substance use, and SUD symptoms, with analyses performed separately for prescription opioids, stimulants, and sedatives/tranquilizers. RESULTS: Prescription opioid (past-year: 11.9%) and sedative/tranquilizer (past-year: 5.8%) misuse were most prevalent among young adults not attending college, especially among high school dropouts. In contrast, full-time college students and college graduates had the highest rates of prescription stimulant misuse (past-year: 4.3% and 3.9%, respectively). Obtaining prescription medications from friends/relatives for free was the most common source of PDM, especially among college students/graduates. Prescription drug misusers who obtained medications from theft/fake prescriptions, purchases, or multiple sources were more likely to report past-year SUDs and had the most severe overall risk profile of concurrent substance use and SUD. More than 70% of past-month prescription drug misusers who reported multiple sources for PDM had at least 1 past-year SUD. CONCLUSIONS: Sources of PDM vary by educational status among US young adults, and the college environment is associated with sharing prescription medications. Clinicians can help assess an individual's risk for SUD by determining whether the individual engaged in PDM and the source of prescription medication the individual is misusing.

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  • NPS is especially prevalent during emerging adulthood, particularly among college students compared to peers who do not attend college.

    “NPS becomes especially prevalent during emerging adulthood, particularly among college students when compared to their peers who do not attend college (McCabe et al., 2018; Schepis et al., 2020).”

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Authors
McCabe, S. E., Teter, C. J., Boyd, C. J., Wilens, T. E., & Schepis, T. S.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • University of New England (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Texas State University (US)
Venue
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Published
2018-04-25
Volume
79
Issue
2
Pages
33-40
ISSN
0160-6689 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2793673718
Cited by
79
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 3
FWCI
11.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA036541, R01DA031160, R01DA043691)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
Keywords
prescription drug misuse, young adults, educational attainment, university students, prescription opioids, stimulant medication, substance use disorders, high school dropout, concurrent substance use
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Analgesics, Opioid, Educational Status, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Hypnotics and Sedatives, Male, Student Dropouts, Tranquilizing Agents, United States, Universities, Prevalence, Substance-Related Disorders, Drug Users, Prescription Drugs, Young Adult, Prescription Drug Misuse

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