![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
We estimate the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug (NMPD) use and test social learning theory as an explanation for NMPD use based upon data from a large pilot study. Data were collected from 465 college students at a Midwestern university in the USA using a self-administered questionnaire. The sample was predominantly white (88%), 43% were female and the mean age was 22. Most participants (80%) were not members of social fraternities or sororities. A majority of students did not report NMPD use: 39.4% of respondents reported lifetime NMPD use, 31% reported past-year use, and 14.4% reported past-month use. Multivariate regression results partially supported social learning theory as an explanation for lifetime NMPD use. Limitations and suggestions for future research are suggested.
THE AUTHORS
Dr. Robert L. Peralta is an assistant professor of Sociology at the University of Akron, Ohio, USA. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware in 2002. His areas of interest and expertise include substance use and abuse, deviance, gender, social inequality, and interpersonal violence. Alcohol use in intimate partner violence and the association between alcohol use and the construction of gender are the focus of his current research. Some of his publications appear in the Journal of Drug Issues; The Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse; Sex Roles; Journal of Men's Studies; Gender Issues; Journal of the American Board of Family Practice; Deviant Behavior, and Violence and Victims.
Jennifer Steele is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology, University of Akron, Ohio, USA. She received the M.A. degree from Ohio University. Jennifer's research interests include substance use and abuse, deviance, social inequality, and interpersonal violence.