Prescription and non-prescription drug use: a longitudinal study.

This study examines changes in the lifetime prevalence of prescription and non-prescription drug use in a national longitudinal sample of young adults. Cohort data used in this study are from the National Longitudinal Survey, Youth Cohort (NLSY) who responded to questions on use of prescription drugs for the years 1984 and 1992 (N = 8,771). Results reveal increases in the lifetime prevalence of prescription use of sedatives, transquilizers, and stimulants. Prescription use was higher among women while non-prescription use was higher among men. Non-prescription drug use in 1984 was significantly related to prescription use in 1992.