Previous studies indicate about 12.5% of university students reported engaging in any non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD). A new qualitative study provided insight on student motives for NMUPD and the perceived consequences associated with this behavior. Participants were 61 U.S. college students who reported NMUPD within the past three months and attended a focus group. This sample was predominantly White and male. 93.1% of participants reported misusing prescription stimulants and the majority of these (83%) reported doing so at least once per month. Participants disclosed they diverted prescription drugs by selling their own medications and identified friends/peers and physicians as common sources of prescription drugs. Motives for misusing prescription stimulants included studying and improving grades. Motives for misusing benzodiazepines included partying and blacking out. The primary motivation for misusing opioids was the sensation. Participants reported the intoxication caused by combining prescription drugs with alcohol or other drugs was desirable, but risky; however, they felt they were not personally at risk for harms. Participants perceived addiction as a potential consequence of misusing any of the three classes of prescription drugs. Other negative consequences included extreme fatigue after use (stimulants), blacking out and having poor judgment (benzodiazepines), and cost and fatigue after use (opioids).
Take away: Student motives and perceived consequences of non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) vary by type of drug. NMUPD in combination with alcohol or other drug use is common.