Citation

King ER, Willcott Benoit W, Repa LM, Garland SN. J. Am. Coll. Health 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Memorial University, St. John's, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2020.1730851

PMID

32207639

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with non-medical use of prescription stimulants to promote wakefulness. Participants: We surveyed 3,160 university students aged 18-35 between June 2016 and May 2017. Method: Participants reported whether they used prescription stimulants non-medically to stay awake and completed measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep quality, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and attitudes toward non-medical prescription drug use. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used. Results: Prevalence of non-medical prescription stimulant use to promote wakefulness was 3.1%. The following factors remained significant in the multivariate model: alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine vapor use, attitude toward non-medical use of prescription medication, poor sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. Conclusion: Poor sleep, substance use and more liberal attitudes to non-medical prescription drug use were associated with the misuse of stimulants to promote wakefulness. Prevention/intervention programs should promote sleep hygiene and highlight the risks of using prescription drugs non-medically.

Language: en

Keywords

Health education; mental health; other drugs; sleep