Association of Prescription Drug Misuse With Risky Motor Vehicle Behaviors Among Low-Income Young Women

ABSTRACT

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between prescription drug misuse and risky motor vehicle behaviors among 16–24-year-old women. Methods: A survey was conducted on misuse of 4 classes of prescription drugs (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives) and past-month risky motor vehicle behaviors among these women during 2008–2010. Results: Overall, 47.7% (1408/2952) of women reported risky motor vehicle behavior(s) in the past month. Misuse of 1 or more of the 4 classes was 30.1% (lifetime), 15.0% (past year), and 6.7% (past month). Misuse of 1 or more of these prescription drug classes was associated with risky motor vehicle behaviors in their lifetime (odds ratio [OR]: 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54–2.18), past year (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.80–2.83), and past month (OR: 2.70, 95% CI: 1.94–3.78). Conclusions: The current finding that misuse of 1 or more of the 4 prescription drug classes, irrespective of when this last occurred, is associated with risky motor vehicle behaviors may help formulate awareness programs.

Keywords:

• Misuse
• motor vehicle
• prescription drug
• seatbelt use
• young women

Acknowledgments

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) provided support for this study with two awards: a Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24HD043659; principal investigator [PI]: Berenson) and an institutional training grant (T32HD055163; PI: Berenson), which supported Dr. Tabassum Haque Laz as an NRSA postdoctoral fellow. The authors are solely responsible for the contents of this paper and it does not necessarily represent the official views of the NICHD or the National Institutes of Health.