College students are a high-risk group for the misuse of prescription drugs. It has been said that college students are more likely than other twenty-something adults to misuse stimulant medications. Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is associated with many negative consequences due to its link with illicit drug use and overdose deaths. College has been identified as a very vulnerable time for substance misuse and has implications on health and well-being. This longitudinal study aimed to “test associations between trajectories of PDM problems and college student’s mental health and subjective happiness over time.”
This study consisted of 300 college students; all students were enrolled as 1st or 2nd year students aged 18 to 21. Participants were asked to complete a modified 10-item Drug Abuse Screening Test. This measured past-year drug use. Students also reported their depressive symptoms and were assessed for signs of Depression and Anxiety. Externalizing symptoms, subjective happiness, other substance use problems, and covariates such as family history of alcohol/drug use were also measured. For this study, an increase in trajectory means a worsening and a decrease in trajectory means bettering.
The result found that initially, there was increasing trajectory at the baseline assessment, with significant individual variability among students. Many associations between students’ mental health and problems with PDM were found. For example, higher levels of PDM problems at baseline correlated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and lower levels of subjective happiness. Prescription opioid misuse from ages 18-20 is associated with higher levels of delinquent behavior. Impulsivity was linked to misusing stimulants, opioids, and sedatives. Those who misuse prescription medications also often reported higher alcohol use. This study shows the need for PDM intervention and prevention resources for college students.
Takeaway: College students are at high risk for prescription drug misuse. This study shows that PDM and its associated negative consequences can have a lasting effect on students’ mental health outcomes.