Prevalence and factors associated with non-medical prescription stimulant use to promote wakefulness in young adults

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with non-medical use of prescription stimulants to promote wakefulness. Participants: We surveyed 3,160 university students aged 18–35 between June 2016 and May 2017. Method: Participants reported whether they used prescription stimulants non-medically to stay awake and completed measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep quality, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and attitudes toward non-medical prescription drug use. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used. Results: Prevalence of non-medical prescription stimulant use to promote wakefulness was 3.1%. The following factors remained significant in the multivariate model: alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine vapor use, attitude toward non-medical use of prescription medication, poor sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. Conclusion: Poor sleep, substance use and more liberal attitudes to non-medical prescription drug use were associated with the misuse of stimulants to promote wakefulness. Prevention/intervention programs should promote sleep hygiene and highlight the risks of using prescription drugs non-medically.

Keywords:

• Health education
• mental health
• other drugs
• sleep

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge all of the members of the Sleep, Health & Wellness Lab at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the dedicated team of student volunteers who assisted with the recruitment process. The completion of this research would not have been possible without their efforts. We would also like to thank the participants for sharing their experience in order to help us make university life better for all young adults.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of Canada and received approval from the Interdisciplinary Committee on Ethics in Human Research at Memorial University of Newfoundland.