Characteristics and Motives of College Students Who Engage in Nonmedical Use of Methylphenidate
Corresponding Author
Robert L. DuPont MD
Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Rockville, Maryland
Institute for Behavior and Health, 6191 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD, 20852. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJohn J. Coleman PhD
Prescription Drug Research Center LLC, George Mason University Enterprise Center, Fairfax, Virginia
Search for more papers by this authorRichard H. Bucher PhD
Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Rockville, Maryland
Search for more papers by this authorBonnie B. Wilford MS
Center for Health Services & Outcomes Research, JBS International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Robert L. DuPont MD
Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Rockville, Maryland
Institute for Behavior and Health, 6191 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD, 20852. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJohn J. Coleman PhD
Prescription Drug Research Center LLC, George Mason University Enterprise Center, Fairfax, Virginia
Search for more papers by this authorRichard H. Bucher PhD
Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Rockville, Maryland
Search for more papers by this authorBonnie B. Wilford MS
Center for Health Services & Outcomes Research, JBS International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Methylphenidate (MPH) has a long history of being an effective medication for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recently, the nonmedical use of MPH has increased, particularly among college students. To investigate this, we surveyed 2,087 students regarding MPH misuse. Of 2,087 respondents, 110 (5.3%) used MPH nonmedically at least once. Most obtained MPH free from a friend, acquaintance, or family member. Misuse of Ritalin® occurred four times more frequently than Concerta.® Among Ritalin abusers, Intranasal use was reported more often than oral. Students reported using MPH nonmedically for recreational reasons as well as to improve academic performance.
REFERENCES
- 1 Poulton A. Long-term outcomes of stimulant medication in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Expert Rev Neurother.. 2006; 6: 551–561.
- 2 http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html Aggregate production quotas. 21 CFR 1303.11; 1970 available online from.
- 3 Drug Enforcement Administration. Aggregate Production Quota History http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/quotas/quota_history.htm 2006 available online from.
- 4 Daley D. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a review of the essential facts. Child Care Health Dev.. 2006; 32: 193–204.
- 5 Kessler RC, Adler L, Barkley R et al. The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Am J Psychiatry.. 2006; 163: 716–723.
- 6 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The NSDUH Report: Stimulant Use, 2003 Department of Health and Human Services Rockville MD. 2005 http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/stimulants/stimulants.pdf available online from.
- 7 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Office of Applied Studies. Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2005: National Estimates of Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits Department of Health and Human Services Rochester MD http://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/files/DAWN-ED-2005-Web.pdf DAWN Series D-29, DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07–4256; 2007 available online from.
- 8 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. College Enrollment Status and Past Year Illicit Drug Use among Young Adults: 2002, 2003, and 2004. 2005.
- 9 Teter CJ, McCabe SE, Lagrange K, Cranford JA, Boyd CJ. Illicit use of specific prescription stimulants among college students: prevalence, motives, and routes of administration. Pharmacotherapy. 2006; 26: 1501–1510 http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/college/college.cfm Rochester, MD: Department of Health and Human Services, available online from.
- 10 Fortson BL, Scotti JR, Del Ben KS, Chen Y-C. Reliability and validity of an Internet traumatic stress survey with a college student sample. J Trauma Stress. 2006; 19: 709–720.
- 11 Denscombe M. Web-based questionnaires and the mode effect: an evaluation based on completion rates and data contents of near-identical questionnaires delivered in different modes. Social Science Computer Review.. 2006; 24: 246–254.
- 12 Harris Interactive, Inc.. Harris Interactive [homepage] Harris Interactive, Inc. Rochester NY. 2007 http://www.harrisinteractive.com/ Accessed July 28, 2007.
- 13 http://www.harrisinteractive.com/partner/hpolpanel.asp Harris Interactive. Harris Poll Online Panel [Web page]. Harris Interactive Web site. Accessed July 30, 2007.
- 14 Babcock Q, Byrne T. Student perceptions of methylphenidate abuse at a public liberal arts college. J Am Coll Health.. 2000; 49: 143–145.
- 15 Volkow ND, Swanson JM. Variables that affect the clinical use and abuse of methylphenidate in the treatment of ADHD. Am J Psychiatry.. 2003; 160: 1909–1918.
- 16 Morton WA, Stockton GG. Methylphenidate abuse and psychiatric side effects. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.. 2000; 2: 159–164.
- 17 Stoops WW, Glaser PE, Rush CR. Reinforcing, subject-rated, and physiological effects of intranasal methylphenidate in humans: a dose-response analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend.. 2003; 71: 179–186.
- 18 Ciccone PE, Starr HL, Coleman J, Mrazik T, DuPont RL, Bensinger PB. OROS(r) MPH: a methylphenidate formulation with a low potential for abuse. Annual Meeting, Pediatric Academic Societies Toronto, Ontario Canada. 58 May 2007 Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC.
- 19 Poulin C. Medical and nonmedical stimulant use among adolescents: from sanctioned to unsanctioned use. CMAJ.. 2001; 165: 1039–1044.
- 20 Kollins SH, Rush CR, Pazzaglia PJ, Ali JA. Comparison of acute behavioral effects of sustained-release and immediate-release methylphenidate. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol.. 1998; 6: 367–374.
- 21 Coleman JJ, Bensinger PB, Gold MS, Smith DE, Bianchi RP, DuPont RL. Can drug design inhibit abuse?. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2005; 37: 343–362.
- 22 Cone EJ. Ephemeral profiles of prescription drug and formulation tampering: evolving pseudoscience on the Internet. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006; 83 Suppl. 1 S31–S39.
- 23 Mansbach RS, Moore RA. Formulation considerations for the development of medications with abuse potential. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006; 83 Suppl. 1 S15–S22.
- 24 Food and Drug Administration editor Rockville MD http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2007/new.1568.html FDA Directs ADHD Drug Manufacturers to Notify Patients about Cardiovascular Adverse Events and Psychiatric Adverse Events, FDA News, 21 February 2007, Doc. No. P07–26; available online from.
- 25 1970 Controlled Substances Act. 21 USC 841.
- 26 1970 Controlled Substances Act. 21 USC 844.
- 27 1970 Controlled Substances Act. 21 USC 843(a)(3).
- 28 Harrison AG, Edwards MJ, Parker KC. Identifying students faking ADHD: preliminary findings and strategies for detection. Arch Clin Neuropsychol.. 2007; 22: 577–588.
