• Sean Esteban McCabe, Christian J Teter, Carol J Boyd, John R Knight, and Henry Wechsler.
• University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center, 2025 Traverwood Dr., Suite C, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2194, United States. plius@umich.edu
• Addict Behav. 2005 May 1; 30 (4): 789-805.

ObjectivesThis study examined the prevalence rates and correlates of nonmedical use of prescription opioid analgesics among U.S. college students in terms of student and college characteristics.MethodsThis study analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 10,904 randomly selected students attending 119 four-year colleges in 2001.ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of nonmedical prescription opioid use was 12% and the past year prevalence was 7%. Approximately one in every four colleges had a prevalence of 10% or higher for past year nonmedical use of prescription opioids. Multivariate regression analyses indicated nonmedical use was more likely to occur among college students who were white, residents of fraternity and sorority houses, attended more competitive colleges, earned lower grade point averages, and reported higher rates of substance use and other risky behaviors.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that the nonmedical use of prescription opioids represents a problem on college campuses. These findings have important implications for developing prevention efforts and therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the nonmedical use of prescription opioid analgesics among college students while not hindering necessary medication management for pain.

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