Nonmedical Use of Prescription Medications: An Emerging Risk Behavior Among Rural Adolescents

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 407 - 409
• Main Authors: Levine, Sara B., M.D., M.P.H, Coupey, Susan M., M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Cannabis; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Drug Labeling; Drug use; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Nonmedical use of prescription medications; Pediatrics; Prescription Drugs; Prescriptions; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Risk behaviour; Risk-Taking; Rural adolescents; Rural communities; Rural Population; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vermont - epidemiology; United States; North America; America; Vermont; Rural adolescents; Drug use; Nonmedical use of prescription medications; Social environment; Human; Consumption; Drug; Drug addiction; Rural environment; Sex; Risk taking; Adolescent; Drug of abuse
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.08.010

Abstract Little is known about prescription medication abuse by rural youth. We surveyed 849 rural high school students and found that 34% reported lifetime nonmedical use of prescription medication higher than the 12% reported nationally. Boys and marijuana users had higher odds of nonmedical use of prescription medication than did girls or marijuana nonusers (odds ratio 1.9 and 3.8, respectively).