Usage of Prescription Drug Medications among Young Adults
In California, approximately 507,000 young adults misused prescription drugs during 2006‐2007. Nationwide data showed that the average age at first nonmedical use of any psychotherapeutics was 21.8 years. More specifically, it was 21.2 years for pain relievers, 21.9 years for stimulants, 24.5 years for tranquilizers, and 24.2 years for sedatives.16 This data shows that initiation and use of prescription drugs for non-medical reasons among young adults is a serious concern, and one that seems to be growing.
National and California-specific studies have found that:
- From 2002 to 2007, there was an increase among young adults aged 18 to 25 in the rate of current use of prescription pain relievers, from 4.1 to 4.6%.17
- The use of PDMs by college students has increased dramatically within the past decade. Between 1993 and 2005 the proportion of students abusing prescription drugs increased:18
- 343 percent for opioids like Percocet®, Vicodin®, and OxyContin®;
- 93 percent for abuse of stimulants like Ritalin® and Adderall®;
- 450 percent for tranquilizers like Xanax® and Valium®; and
- 225 percent for sedatives like Nembutal® and Seconal®.
- Recent California studies of collegiate student use suggest that rates of prescription drug use, particularly among Fraternities and Sororities, are very high (40.3 percent past month, 28.2 percent past year).19
Go to the MTF National Survey results on drug use in College and Adults aged 19-45, Volume 2, 1975-200720 for a complete copy of survey results.
16 Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. NSDUH: National Findings. Available at: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k7nsduh/2k7Results.pdf. Accessed Aug 31, 2009
17 Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. NSDUH: National Findings. Available at: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k7nsduh/2k7Results.pdf. Accessed Aug 31, 2009
18 Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities. (March 2007). National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA). Available at: http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/articlefiles/380-Wasting%20the%20Best%20and%20the%20Brightest.pdf. Accessed Sept. 5, 2009.
19 Shillington, A., Reed, M.B., Lange, J.E., Clapp, J.D., & Henry, S. (2006). College undergraduate Ritalin abusers in the Southwestern United States: Protective and risk factors. Journal of Drug Issues, 36, 999-1014.
20 Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2008). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2007: Volume II, College students and adults ages 19–45(NIH Publication No. 08-6418B). Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol2_2007.pdf
17 Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. NSDUH: National Findings. Available at: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k7nsduh/2k7Results.pdf. Accessed Aug 31, 2009
18 Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities. (March 2007). National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA). Available at: http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/articlefiles/380-Wasting%20the%20Best%20and%20the%20Brightest.pdf. Accessed Sept. 5, 2009.
19 Shillington, A., Reed, M.B., Lange, J.E., Clapp, J.D., & Henry, S. (2006). College undergraduate Ritalin abusers in the Southwestern United States: Protective and risk factors. Journal of Drug Issues, 36, 999-1014.
20 Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2008). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2007: Volume II, College students and adults ages 19–45(NIH Publication No. 08-6418B). Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol2_2007.pdf