Subtypes of nonmedical prescription drug misuse

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence 2009-06, Vol.102 (1), p.63-70
• Main Authors: McCabe, Sean Esteban, Boyd, Carol J, Teter, Christian J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Alcoholism - psychology; Analgesics, Opioid; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Biological and medical sciences; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Co-ingestion; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Drug industry; Drugs; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Motivation; Motive; Nonmedical use; Pain; Prescription drug misuse; Prescription Drugs; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Route of administration; Self Administration; Self-treatment; Sex Factors; Stimulants; Students; Substance abuse; Substance-Related Disorders - classification; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Subtypes; United States - epidemiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.01.007

Abstract This study used three characteristics (i.e., motive, route of administration, and co-ingestion with alcohol) of nonmedical prescription drug misuse across four separate classes (i.e., pain, sedative/anxiety, sleeping, and stimulant medications) to examine subtypes and drug related problems. A Web survey was self-administered by a randomly selected sample of 3639 undergraduate students attending a large midwestern 4-year U.S. university. Self-treatment subtypes were characterized by motives consistent with the prescription drug's pharmaceutical main indication, oral only routes of administration, and no co-ingestion with alcohol. Recreational subtypes were characterized by recreational motives, oral or non-oral routes, and co-ingestion. Mixed subtypes consisted of other combinations of motives, routes, and co-ingestion. Among those who reported nonmedical prescription drug misuse, approximately 13% were classified into the recreational subtype, while 39% were in the self-treatment subtype, and 48% were in the mixed subtype. There were significant differences in the subtypes in terms of gender, race and prescription drug class. Approximately 50% of those in subtypes other than self-treatment screened positive for drug abuse. The odds of substance use and abuse were generally lower among self-treatment subtypes than other subtypes. The findings indicate subtypes should be considered when examining nonmedical prescription drug misuse, especially for pain medication.