April 7, 2009 |
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Full-time college students aged 18 to 22 were twice as likely as their counterparts who were not full-time college students to have used Adderall® nonmedically in the past year (6.4 vs. 3.0 percent) (Figure 1). This pattern was found for both males and females and for persons aged 18 to 20 as well as for those 21 or 22 years old.
Enrollment Status | Total Aged 18 to 22 |
Aged 18 to 20 |
Aged 21 or 22 |
Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full-Time College Students |
6.4% | 6.1% | 7.0% | 6.9% | 6.0% |
Other | 3.0% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 2.9% |
Source: 2006 and 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Among full-time college students, those who had used Adderall® nonmedically in the past year were more likely than those who had not used Adderall® nonmedically to have used illicit drugs or to have used other prescription drugs nonmedically in the past year. Full-time college students who were nonmedical users of Adderall® were almost 3 times as likely as those who had not used Adderall® nonmedically to have used marijuana in the past year (79.9 vs. 27.2 percent), 8 times more likely to have used cocaine in that period (28.9 vs. 3.6 percent), 8 times more likely to have been nonmedical users of prescription tranquilizers (24.5 vs. 3.0 percent), and 5 times more likely to have been nonmedical users of prescription pain relievers (44.9 vs. 8.7 percent) (Figure 2).
Drug Use | Used Adderall® Nonmedically in the Past Year | Did Not Use Adderall® Nonmedically in the Past Year |
---|---|---|
Marijuana | 79.9% | 27.2% |
Cocaine | 28.9% | 3.6% |
Hallucinogens | 32.2% | 5.0% |
LSD | 7.1% | 1.0% |
Ecstasy | 14.8% | 2.4% |
Inhalants | 9.4% | 1.5% |
Pain Relievers | 44.9% | 8.7% |
OxyContin® | 8.6% | 1.0% |
Tranquilizers | 24.5% | 3.0% |
Methamphetamine | 3.8% | 0.4% |
Sedatives | 2.2% | 0.4% |
Source: 2006 and 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Among full-time college students aged 18 to 22, those who used Adderall® nonmedically in the past year were more than 1.5 times as likely as their counterparts to have used alcohol in the past month (95.4 vs. 63.0 percent), more than twice as likely to have been binge alcohol users (89.5 vs. 41.4 percent), and more than 3 times as likely to have been heavy alcohol users (55.2 vs. 15.6 percent) (Figure 3). Similar patterns were observed for underage full-time college students (i.e., those aged 18 to 20) who used Adderall® nonmedically in the past year and for nonmedical Adderall® users of legal drinking age compared with their counterparts who had not used it nonmedically (data not shown).
Use in the Past Month | Alcohol Use |
Binge Alcohol Use |
Heavy Alcohol Use |
---|---|---|---|
Used Adderall® Nonmedically in the Past Year | 95.4% | 89.5% | 55.2% |
Did Not Use Adderall® Nonmedically in the Past Year | 63.0% | 41.4% | 15.6% |
Source: 2006 and 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Among full-time college students aged 18 to 22, nonmedical use of Adderall® in the past year was more likely among whites (8.6 percent) than blacks (1.0 percent), Asians (2.1 percent), Hispanics (2.2 percent), or persons of two or more races (2.7 percent) (Table 1). Nonmedical use of Adderall® among full-time college students was highest among students whose annual family incomes were less than $20,000 (8.9 percent), followed by those with annual family incomes of $75,000 or more (6.0 percent). Rates were lower for students with annual family incomes of $20,000 to $49,999 (3.0 percent) or $50,000 to $74,999 (4.0 percent).
Demographic Characteristic | % |
---|---|
Race/Ethnicity * | |
White | 8.6 |
Black or African American | 1.0 |
Asian | 2.1 |
Two or More Races | 2.7 |
Hispanic or Latino | 2.2 |
Annual Family Income | |
Less than $20,000 | 8.9 |
$20,000 to $49,999 | 3.0 |
$50,000 to $74,999 | 4.0 |
$75,000 or More | 6.0 |
Source: 2006 and 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
The higher rate of nonmedical use of Adderall® among full-time college students than among others in the same age range is a public health concern because of this drug's potential for dependence or abuse. Educators, counselors, and others who work with students also need to be aware that polydrug use was prevalent among full-time college students who used Adderall® nonmedically in the past year. As noted previously, both cocaine and stimulants such as Adderall® increase a person's risk for heart attack or stroke. Students who use Adderall® nonmedically also may need to take central nervous system depressants such as pain relievers or tranquilizers—which carry their own risks of dependence or abuse—to counteract the stimulant effects of Adderall®. Finally, high rates of binge and heavy alcohol use among full-time college students who used Adderall® nonmedically in the past year are a cause for concern because of the well-documented associations between excessive drinking among college students and the adverse consequences for students' physical and mental health, safety, and environment.7
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2006 and 2007 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 28,027 persons aged 18 to 22. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2008). Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 08-4343, NSDUH Series H-34). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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This page was last updated on March 31, 2009. |
SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.
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