Prescription Psychostimulant Use Among Young Adults: A Narrative Review of Qualitative Studies

ABSTRACT

Background. Within the last decade, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs has raised concern, particularly among young adults. Psychostimulants, that is to say amphetamine and its derivatives, are pharmaceuticals, which contribute to what has come to be known in Canada and the United States as the “prescription drug crisis.” Research in the fields of public health, addiction studies, and neuroethics has attempted to further understand this mounting issue; however, there is a paucity of data concerning the underlying social logics related to the use of these substances. Objectives. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the current literature related to the social context of prescription psychostimulant use among young adults, and to discuss theoretical considerations as well as implications for future research. Methods. A narrative review of the literature was performed. Results. We found that research efforts have chiefly targeted college students, yet there is a lack of knowledge concerning other social groups likely to use these pharmaceuticals nonmedically, such as persons with high strain employment. Three main emerging patterns related to prescription psychostimulant use were identified: (1) control of external stressors, (2) strategic use toward the making of the self, and (3) increasing one's performance. Conclusions. Prescription psychostimulant use among young adults is anchored in contemporary normativity and cannot be separated from the developing performance ethic within North-American and other Western societies. We suggest that pharmaceuticalization and Actor-Network Theory are useful conceptual tools to frame future research efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychostimulants
• prescription
• nonmedical use
• performance
• pharmaceuticalization
• Actor-Network Theory

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Caroline Robitaille

Caroline Robitaille is a doctoral candidate in the University of Montreal's School of Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. She is pursuing a doctorate in Health Promotion. Her research interests include the nonmedical use of prescription medications, namely, psychostimulants, among young adults.

Johanne Collin

Johanne Collin, PhD, is a Professor in the University of Montreal's Faculty of Pharmacy. She is the Director of the MEOS (Médicament comme objet social) research team. Her research interests center on social theory, qualitative social research, and the sociology of health and medicine.