Non-medical use of prescription stimulants among US college students: prevalence and correlates from a national survey

  1. Sean Esteban McCabe1,*,
  2. John R. Knight2,
  3. Christian J. Teter3,
  4. Henry Wechsler4

Article first published online: 10 DEC 2004

DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.00944.x

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 100, Issue 1, pages 96–106, January 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

McCabe, S. E., Knight, J. R., Teter, C. J. and Wechsler, H. (2005), Non-medical use of prescription stimulants among US college students: prevalence and correlates from a national survey. Addiction, 100: 96–106. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.00944.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Michigan, Substance Abuse Research Center, Ann Arbor, MI,

  2. 2

    Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston, Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, Boston, MA,

  3. 3

    Northeastern University, Boeve’ College of Health Sciences, McLean Hospital Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program, Boston, MA and

  4. 4

    Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Boston, MA USA

*Sean Esteban McCabe Acting Director and Assistant Research  Scientist University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center 2025 Traverwood Drive Suite C Ann Arbor MI 48105–2194 USA Tel: (734) 998 6510 Fax: (734) 998 6508 E-mail: plius@umich.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 DEC 2004
  2. Article first published online: 10 DEC 2004
  3. Submitted 10 December 2003; initial review completed 1 April 2004; final version accepted 31 August 2004

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Keywords:

  • Adderall;
  • ADHD;
  • amphetamines;
  • college students;
  • Dexedrine;
  • methylphenidate;
  • non-medical use;
  • prescription stimulants;
  • Ritalin

ABSTRACT

Aims  To examine the prevalence rates and correlates of non-medical use of prescription stimulants (Ritalin, Dexedrine or Adderall) among US college students in terms of student and college characteristics.

Design  A self-administered mail survey.

Setting  One hundred and nineteen nationally representative 4-year colleges in the United States.

Participants  A representative sample of 10 904 randomly selected college students in 2001.

Measurements  Self-reports of non-medical use of prescription stimulants and other substance use behaviors.

Findings  The life-time prevalence of non-medical prescription stimulant use was 6.9%, past year prevalence was 4.1% and past month prevalence was 2.1%. Past year rates of non-medical use ranged from zero to 25% at individual colleges. Multivariate regression analyses indicated non-medical use was higher among college students who were male, white, members of fraternities and sororities and earned lower grade point averages. Rates were higher at colleges located in the north-eastern region of the US and colleges with more competitive admission standards. Non-medical prescription stimulant users were more likely to report use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and other risky behaviors.

Conclusions  The findings of the present study provide evidence that non-medical use of prescription stimulants is more prevalent among particular subgroups of US college students and types of colleges. The non-medical use of prescription stimulants represents a high-risk behavior that should be monitored further and intervention efforts are needed to curb this form of drug use.

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