TY - JOUR
T1 - An exploratory study of socio-cultural factors contributing to prescription drug misuse among college students
AU - Quintero, Gilbert
AU - Peterson, Jeffery
AU - Young, Bonnie
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Although recent increases in collegiate prescription drug misuse have generated a great deal of concern, there are few analyses available that examine the socio-cultural factors influencing these trends. This article attempts to address this gap in knowledge by providing an analysis of several socio-cultural factors influencing pharmaceutical misuse by college students. Prescription drugs are put to a number of different purposes in the collegiate setting, including self-medication, socio-recreation, and academic functioning. Such misuse is acceptable in a social context where individuals deliberately attempt to experiment with drugs. Widespread knowledge regarding effects, dosages, and compatibilities with other drugs, coupled with the extensive availability of pharmaceuticals in collegiate social circles, makes this class of drugs an attractive alternative to other psychoactive substances. These factors underscore several implications for substance abuse prevention efforts on college campuses and suggest a number of important issues for further research.
AB - Although recent increases in collegiate prescription drug misuse have generated a great deal of concern, there are few analyses available that examine the socio-cultural factors influencing these trends. This article attempts to address this gap in knowledge by providing an analysis of several socio-cultural factors influencing pharmaceutical misuse by college students. Prescription drugs are put to a number of different purposes in the collegiate setting, including self-medication, socio-recreation, and academic functioning. Such misuse is acceptable in a social context where individuals deliberately attempt to experiment with drugs. Widespread knowledge regarding effects, dosages, and compatibilities with other drugs, coupled with the extensive availability of pharmaceuticals in collegiate social circles, makes this class of drugs an attractive alternative to other psychoactive substances. These factors underscore several implications for substance abuse prevention efforts on college campuses and suggest a number of important issues for further research.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33846217860&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/002204260603600407
DO - 10.1177/002204260603600407
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33846217860
SN - 0022-0426
VL - 36
SP - 903
EP - 932
JO - Journal of Drug Issues
JF - Journal of Drug Issues
IS - 4
ER -