The Role of Anonymity in Determining the Self-Reported Use of Cocaine and Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use Among College Students

ABSTRACT

Background: Nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPSU) is commonly reported by college students and is on the rise. It is possible that increases in NPSU rates may stem from a lack of stigmatization regarding use, given recent evidence that students do not hold strong negative perceptions related to NPSU. Objectives: This study aimed to assess NPSU and cocaine use using a conventional method and a method that assures anonymity. As anonymous data collection has typically found higher prevalence rates for stigmatized behaviors compared to conventional techniques, it was expected that cocaine rates would differ between techniques, while NPSU rates would not. Methods: At a Midwestern university during the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 terms, groups of college student participants were randomly assigned either to a condition in which the data collection method guaranteed their anonymity (n = 204) or to a condition using a more conventional data collection technique that did not guarantee anonymity (n = 236). Participants responded to self-report measures assessing stimulant use, perception of anonymity of the methods, and demographics. Results: When anonymity was guaranteed, male participants were significantly more likely to report cocaine use. However, no differences in NPSU rates were noted for either sex, regardless of anonymity. Conclusions: These results suggest that NPSU may not have the same perceived negative social consequences as other more stigmatized stimulant drugs, with young men in particular giving little weight to the potential consequences of NPSU.

KEYWORDS:

• Nonmedical prescription stimulant use
• anonymity
• cocaine
• college students
• stimulants
• stigma
• social acceptability

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Notes

1 A through description of the exclusionary criteria is provided in the Results section.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary E. Zander

Mary E. Zander, M.A., is a Captain and Clinical Psychology Resident in the United States Air Force. She anticipates graduating from the University of North Dakota with her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology December 2016. She has two primary research areas, which include affective trends within Eating Disorders and psychosocial factors impacting military populations. This article does not reflect the views of the Air Force.

Mara Norton-Baker

Mara Norton-Baker, B.A., is a Clinical Psychology graduate student at the University of North Dakota. Her primary research interests include drug and alcohol use, with a focus on the cognitive mechanisms that initiate and maintain problematic drinking behaviors.

Kyle P. De Young

Kyle P. De Young, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of North Dakota. His research interests are in the areas of eating behaviors and assessment, particularly with respect to eating disorders.

Alison Looby

Alison Looby, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of North Dakota. Her primary research interests involve identifying and modifying cognitive etiological factors for college student substance use, with a particular focus on nonmedical prescription stimulant use.