OBJECTIVES

To evaluate college student’s beliefs about Prescription Drug Misuse (PDM) among their peers, their perceived need for interventions, and perceived effectiveness of currently available interventions regarding PDM.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among college students between 18 and 30 years enrolled in West Virginia University from March 2017 to January 2018 using an online portal (N=312). The survey collected data on demographic characteristics, beliefs and perceptions regarding PDM among peers, and potential PDM-reducing programs. An open-ended question was used to describe their perceived effective interventions.

RESULTS

Many respondents (38%) perceived that 21-40% of college students had PDM. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents reported knowing someone that had PDM in the last 12 months. Respondents who reported peer PDM and those who did not were similar in most demographic characteristics except the former group comprised a higher proportion of fraternity/sorority members (12.4% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.017). Among respondents who reported peer PDM, stimulants were perceived as the most prevalent prescription drugs misused. The most common reasons reported for misuse were improving academic performance (51%) and recreational use (66%). Most respondents (85%) believed that peers were the most common source of obtaining prescription drugs for misuse. The majority of the respondents perceived PDM as a problem for college students (73%) and agreed that interventions were needed to reduce PDM (67%). Prevention education was perceived as an effective intervention to reduce PDM by most respondents as compared to norm correction and environmental management. According to the responses of the open-ended question (N=134), effective PDM-reducing interventions should make efforts to educate students about adverse consequences of PDM, reduce academic stress, and provide more alternative activities.

CONCLUSIONS

PDM is prevalent among college students. Interventions such as prevention education were perceived as needed and effective to reduce PDM among college students.