Adolescents' Nonmedical Use of Prescription Medications and Other Problem Behaviors

Purpose

This study examines adolescent nonmedical use of prescription medications (NUPM) and its relationship to other problem behaviors.

Methods

A secondary analysis was conducted with data gathered from 912 adolescents in 2007. Four mutually exclusive groups were created from the data. Adolescents who: 1) did not use controlled prescription medications (nonusers); 2) used their own controlled medications as prescribed (medical-users); 3) engaged in nonmedical use for self-treatment motivations (self-treaters), and 4) engaged in nonmedical use for sensation-seeking motivations (sensation-seekers). These four groups were compared on problem behaviors as well as depression and impulsivity.

Results

Approximately 10.9% of the sample engaged in NUPM and 36.8% had a legal prescription for a controlled medication. Sensation-seekers were more likely to engage in most problem behaviors when compared with all other groups; impulsivity and depression was variable among groups.

Conclusions

The findings suggest there are different subtypes of nonmedical users of prescription medications.

Keywords: Nonmedical use prescription medications (NUPM), Adolescents' prescription drug abuse, Problem behaviors