Prescription stimulant misuse is most common in young adults between 18-25 years and may cause serious side effects such as blurred vision, sleep disruption, and seizures. The current study looks at study habits and how they may impact likelihood of college students to misuse prescription stimulants.
334 students were recruited with 76% being female. Participants were asked several questions to measure stimulant misuse such as “How often, if ever, have you used any of the drugs listed below for study related purposes?” Prescription stimulants included Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Vyvanse, Modafinil, Adrafinil, and Phenylpiracetam. Study habits were by determining students spacing of study habits. These included multiple day/weeks or one study session before the test. They also measured study habits by asking how students’ study such as “test yourself with questions” or “use flashcards.” Each participant received a score on “number of total study strategies,” “number of effective study strategies,” and “number of ineffective study strategies.” Finally, participants self-rated their satisfaction with performance in school.
36 students reported misusing prescription stimulants during the previous year with the most frequency being Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. Students also reported on average using 3.7 of the total 10 study strategies and almost half reported studying over multiple days/weeks. Analyses showed use of spacing was similar between those students who misused and did not misuse stimulants. They also found that with each additional study strategy used, odds of misuse were increased by 1.36 times and with each additional effective study strategy, odds of misuse were increased by 1.75 times. The number of ineffective study strategies were not found to predict stimulant misuse. These findings show the more study strategies and higher importance of school predicted higher odds of prescription stimulant misuse allowing for augmentation of effective study habits.
Take-Away: The current study looks at study habits and how they may impact misuse of prescription stimulants. 334 students were included and asked about stimulant misuse and study habits including spacing and habits. 36 students reported misusing prescription stimulants and spacing was similar between all students regardless of misuse. They found with each additional study strategy used, odds of misuse were increased by 1.36 times and with each additional effective study strategy, odds of misuse were increased by 1.75 times. These findings show more study strategies and higher importance of school predicts higher odds of prescription stimulant misuse allowing for augmentation of effective study habits.