Illicit prescription drug use common

Illicit prescription drug use among U.S. undergraduate college students has been increasing in the past decade, according to the book "Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use."

Prescription drugs are second only to marijuana, the most common form of illicit drug use.

The 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported the highest prevalence of illicit prescription drug use among Americans ages 18 to 25.

The Journal of American College Health (2003) published a study led by Sean E. McCabe in which 9,161 undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university filled out an online survey.

According to the survey results, about 20 percent of college students take prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.

The majority of the students claimed to have obtained the drugs primarily from peers but also from family members.

Prevalence of illicit use was 9 percent for pain medication, 5 percent for stimulant medication, 3 percent for sedatives and anxiety medication and 2 percent for sleeping medication.

Two common painkillers used by students include Vicodin and Tylenol with codeine.

Survey results indicated that stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin are also used to help students stay awake longer or to focus while studying.

One SCSU student, who asked not to be named, said he has taken recreational drugs about 10 times throughout college.

The drugs include codeine, Adderall, Vicodin and Percocet.

The student said he has several friends who also take prescription drugs illicitly.

Similar to McCabe's research, the SCSU student said he obtained the drugs from friends with prescriptions.

According to Dr. Brent Nielsen, medical director of SCSU Student Health Services, there are probably many reasons why students use prescription drugs illegally.

He said one reason students use prescription drugs is because they are ignorant about the dangers to their health and legal consequences of getting caught.

Nielsen also said students might use them to treat underlying medical problems such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic fatigue and pain syndromes.

Nielsen said students are also susceptible to becoming unintentionally addicted to prescription medications or may intentionally use drugs in combination with other medications strictly for experimental reasons.

Students who use prescription drugs illegally are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, such as binge drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and mixing prescription drugs with alcohol, according to a 2007 study by Jennifer Srnick titled "Illicit Prescription Drug Use among College Undergraduates."

"When narcotic containing pain medicines are combined with other central nervous system depressants such as alcohol, antihistamines, antipsychotic medications, anti-anxiety agents, and antidepressants there can be a dangerous side effect of over-sedation and rarely death," Dr. Nielsen said.

According to Dr. Nielsen, possible side effects of stimulants include high blood pressure, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, and loss of appetite.

"There is a risk in that people who are using non-medically are unaware of the medication's potential interaction with other drugs. Or maybe they have a pre-existing health condition where they shouldn't take that medication," McCabe said.