According to recent studies, the misuse of prescription medication is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States among all age groups but particularly among those ages 18 -25. In 2019 it was reported that the most used prescription medications were stimulants and pain relievers. This study was a cross-sectional study done to assess drug use from the local demographic of students in South Jersey and provided quantitative data about the prevalence of prescription pain medication and stimulants used among college youth.
Participants in this study filled out online 30-question surveys. Some of the questions asked were demographic variables such as age, gender, race, year in college, and more. Other questions were asked about nonprescription/prescription drug use and knowledge questions about drug use in younger adults. This study consisted of 1663 students between the ages of 18 and 24. The students were all enrolled for a Fall semester at an undergraduate public university in South Jersey. The participants were majority female (72%) and white (74%).
The study showed that 33% of participants had used a prescription opioid. 48% reported nonmedical use of pain relievers, and 11% reported misuse of prescription medication. Prescription medication misuse was defined as taking prescription drugs not prescribed to them. It was found that 15% of the participants had used prescription stimulants in the past year and that those used stimulants were more likely to use prescription pain relievers than those that do not use stimulants. This study found that students’ knowledge of fentanyl and naloxone did not reduce the rates of prescription medication misuse. More research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of one’s knowledge on drugs impacted on drug use/misuse. This study supports the need to inform students about the negative consequences of prescription medication misuse.
Takeaway: Prescription drug misuse is the fastest growing drug problem for all ages but especially those ages 18-25. There is big need for developing effective prevention strategies.