Amelia M Arria1, Irene M Geisner2, M Dolores Cimini3, Jason R Kilmer4, Kimberly M Caldeira5, Angelica L Barrall6, Kathryn B Vincent7, Nicole Fossos-Wong8, Jih-Cheng Yeh9, Isaac Rhew10, Christine M Lee11, Geetha A Subramaniam12, David Liu13, Mary E Larimer14. 1. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA. Electronic address: aarria@umd.edu. 2. Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: geisner@uw.edu. 3. Counseling and Psychological Services, University at Albany, 400 Patroon Creek Blvd. Suite 104, Albany, NY 12206, USA. Electronic address: dcimini@albany.edu. 4. Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Health and Wellness, Division of Student Life, University of Washington, 109 Elm Hall, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: jkilmer@uw.edu. 5. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA. Electronic address: caldeira@umd.edu. 6. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA. Electronic address: abarrall@umd.edu. 7. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA. Electronic address: kvincent@umd.edu. 8. Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: njf2@uw.edu. 9. Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: yehjih@uw.edu. 10. Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: rhew@uw.edu. 11. Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: leecm@uw.edu. 12. Center for the Clinical Trials Network, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: geetha.subramaniam@nih.gov. 13. Center for the Clinical Trials Network, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: dliu@nida.nih.gov. 14. Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: larimer@uw.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: College students are at higher than average risk for nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NPS). A commonly identified motive among students who engage in NPS is to improve grades. Several research studies have observed that NPS most likely does not confer an academic advantage, and is associated with excessive drinking and other drug use. This study documents the proportion of the general college student population who believe that NPS will lead to improvements in academic performance. METHODS: This study gathered online survey data from a large, demographically diverse sample of college students to document the prevalence of perceived academic benefit of NPS for improving grades and to examine the association between such belief and NPS. RESULTS: Overall, 28.6% agreed or strongly agreed that NPS could help students earn higher grades, and an additional 38.0% were unsure. Students with a higher level of perceived academic benefit of NPS and more frequent patterns of drinking and marijuana use were more likely to engage in NPS, even after adjustment for a wide range of covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore the need for interventions that simultaneously correct misperceptions related to academic benefit and target alcohol and marijuana use to reduce NPS.
INTRODUCTION: College students are at higher than average risk for nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NPS). A commonly identified motive among students who engage in NPS is to improve grades. Several research studies have observed that NPS most likely does not confer an academic advantage, and is associated with excessive drinking and other drug use. This study documents the proportion of the general college student population who believe that NPS will lead to improvements in academic performance. METHODS: This study gathered online survey data from a large, demographically diverse sample of college students to document the prevalence of perceived academic benefit of NPS for improving grades and to examine the association between such belief and NPS. RESULTS: Overall, 28.6% agreed or strongly agreed that NPS could help students earn higher grades, and an additional 38.0% were unsure. Students with a higher level of perceived academic benefit of NPS and more frequent patterns of drinking and marijuana use were more likely to engage in NPS, even after adjustment for a wide range of covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore the need for interventions that simultaneously correct misperceptions related to academic benefit and target alcohol and marijuana use to reduce NPS.
Authors: Amelia M Arria; Kimberly M Caldeira; Kevin E O'Grady; Kathryn B Vincent; Erin P Johnson; Eric D Wish Journal: Pharmacotherapy Date: 2008-02 Impact factor: 4.705
Authors: Timothy E Wilens; MaryKate Martelon; Amy Yule; Tamar A Kaminski; Colin Burke; Ty S Schepis; Sean E McCabe Journal: Am J Addict Date: 2020-05-20
Authors: Jason R Kilmer; Nicole Fossos-Wong; Irene M Geisner; Jih-Cheng Yeh; Mary E Larimer; M Dolores Cimini; Kathryn B Vincent; Hannah K Allen; Angelica L Barrall; Amelia M Arria Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2021-03-26 Impact factor: 2.164