Rx for a Party: A Qualitative Analysis of Recreational Pharmaceutical Use in a Collegiate Setting

Objective: Using a qualitative methodology, the author examined the sociorecreational use of pharmaceuticals in a collegiate setting. Participants: In all, 91 college students from a public, 4-year institution for higher learning in the Southwest participated in this study. Methods: The author condu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of American college health 2009-07, Vol.58 (1), p.64-72
Main Author: Quintero, Gilbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
College Students
Colleges & universities
Data collection
Drug abuse
Drug industry
Drug Use
Drugs
Female
Fraternities & sororities
Health Behavior
Humans
Interviews
Learning
Leisure Time
Male
Montana
Narcotics
Pharmaceuticals
Pleasure
prescription drug misuse
Prescription Drugs
Prescriptions
Prevention
Prevention programs
Qualitative Research
Recreational Activities
Risk
Risk Assessment
Social Life
Social Perception
Stimulants
Street Drugs
Students
Studies
Substance Abuse
Substance-Related Disorders
Undergraduate students
United States (Southwest)
Universities
Young Adult
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Summary:Objective: Using a qualitative methodology, the author examined the sociorecreational use of pharmaceuticals in a collegiate setting. Participants: In all, 91 college students from a public, 4-year institution for higher learning in the Southwest participated in this study. Methods: The author conducted semistructured interviews between May 2004 and December 2005; they then audio recorded, transcribed, and examined the interviews for themes related to the sociorecreational use of prescription drugs. Results: A variety of prescription drugs are used for a number of purposes, including to experience pleasure, manage the duration or intensity of another drug's effects, party or socialize with friends and peers in leisure settings, facilitate sociorecreational activities, and help structure free time. Conclusions: Pharmaceuticals appear to be well integrated into the recreational drug use practices of college students, and prescription drug misuse presents a significant prevention challenge.
ISSN:0744-8481
1940-3208
DOI:10.3200/JACH.58.1.64-72