Pilot study of abuse of asthma inhalers by middle and high school students.

During a school-based survey, middle and high school students (n = 1536) reported on their nonprescribed, lifetime use of asthma inhalers. Approximately 15% of 8th and 9th graders reported using nonprescribed asthma inhalers; the odds for this behavior were significantly higher for these students (2.25 and 2.30, respectively) and the nonprescribed use of asthma inhalers was significantly associated with higher rates of other drug use.