Adolescent nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers: an examination of primary socialization theory

ABSTRACT

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to examine the links between primary socialization sources and the past year non-medical use of prescription pain relievers among adolescents.

Methods

The data for the study came from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (2016–2019). Specifically, self-reported past year non-medical use of prescription pain relievers, Primary Socialization Theory (PST) constructs, and control measures was used.

Results

The results from binomial complex survey logistic regression indicated poor parental bonds, poor school bonds, and associating with substance using peers had links with past year non-medical use of prescription pain relievers.

Conclusion

Further, the results indicated associating with substance using peers had the strongest link with past year non-medical use of prescription pain relievers hypothesized by the theory. The limitations and implications for future research are noted.

KEYWORDS:

• Nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers
• primary socialization
• peers
• bonds

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. In 2015, the NSDUH survey underwent a large review and revision. According to the NSDUH, data coming before 2015, in the context of the nonmedical use of prescription drugs, is not comparable to years coming afterward. Given 2015 was the first year of the new survey, the decision was made to use 2016 to avoid any potential aberrations from the first administration of the new survey.

2. Tolerance results revealed multicollinearity is not a problem with these data. The specific results are available upon request.

3. An interaction analysis was performed between poor parental relations and substance using peers and poor school bonds and substance using peers. The results did not reveal any significant findings. Therefore, they were not included an interpretation of the interaction effect analysis because neither were statistically significant. The results of these analyses and their simple slope graphs are available upon request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.