Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Start Date
10-4-2015 10:15 AM
End Date
10-4-2015 12:00 PM
Sponsor
Darin Ramsey (Butler University)
Description
Background: An ongoing study at the University of Michigan administers surveys to approximately 420 public and private high school students, evaluating drug misuse in grades 8, 10, and 12. Of the students surveyed, over-the-counter cough medications have been shown to be the fifth most misused medication at 5.6 percent. It has also been shown that 55 percent of teenagers do not feel that using over-the-counter cough medications other than as directed is risky behavior. This is a strong indication that over-the-counter drug misuse in high school students is a growing problem.
Study Objective: To evaluate the rates of over-the-counter medication misuse in high school students and compare the trends to national statistics.
Methods: The study objective was met using a cross-sectional survey. The survey was administered to high school students in schools across the state of Indiana, from November-December 2014, utilizing an online survey platform. The survey asked questions about specific medications misused, rates of misuse, and how the student learned to misuse the medication. Students chose answers based on a multiple choice selection, with an option for free response. Students were identified only by age and gender.
Results: Seven hundred twelve students participated in the study. Of the students surveyed, 9.6 percent had used an over-the-counter medication for a non-medical reason. The most commonly misused medications reported were caffeine (68.25%), dextromethorphan (50.79%), pseudoephedrine (30.16%), coricidan (20.63%) and bisacodyl (9.52%). Nearly half (48.39%) of students indicated that they felt misusing over-the-counter medications was a worthwhile experience.
Conclusions: The students participating in this study reported an over-the-counter medication misuse rate nearly double that of national trends (9.6% versus 5.6%). Further research is indicated to evaluate the potential reasons for this trend, so proper education may be implemented.
An Evaluation of Over-the-Counter Medication Abuse in High School Students: An Observational Study
Indianapolis, IN
Background: An ongoing study at the University of Michigan administers surveys to approximately 420 public and private high school students, evaluating drug misuse in grades 8, 10, and 12. Of the students surveyed, over-the-counter cough medications have been shown to be the fifth most misused medication at 5.6 percent. It has also been shown that 55 percent of teenagers do not feel that using over-the-counter cough medications other than as directed is risky behavior. This is a strong indication that over-the-counter drug misuse in high school students is a growing problem.
Study Objective: To evaluate the rates of over-the-counter medication misuse in high school students and compare the trends to national statistics.
Methods: The study objective was met using a cross-sectional survey. The survey was administered to high school students in schools across the state of Indiana, from November-December 2014, utilizing an online survey platform. The survey asked questions about specific medications misused, rates of misuse, and how the student learned to misuse the medication. Students chose answers based on a multiple choice selection, with an option for free response. Students were identified only by age and gender.
Results: Seven hundred twelve students participated in the study. Of the students surveyed, 9.6 percent had used an over-the-counter medication for a non-medical reason. The most commonly misused medications reported were caffeine (68.25%), dextromethorphan (50.79%), pseudoephedrine (30.16%), coricidan (20.63%) and bisacodyl (9.52%). Nearly half (48.39%) of students indicated that they felt misusing over-the-counter medications was a worthwhile experience.
Conclusions: The students participating in this study reported an over-the-counter medication misuse rate nearly double that of national trends (9.6% versus 5.6%). Further research is indicated to evaluate the potential reasons for this trend, so proper education may be implemented.