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Motives and perceived consequences of nonmedical ADHD medication use by college students: are students treating themselves for attention problems?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rabiner, DL; Anastopoulos, AD; Costello, EJ; Hoyle, RH; McCabe, SE; Swartzwelder, HS
Published in: J Atten Disord
November 2009

OBJECTIVE: This study examines why college students without a prescription take ADHD medication, what they perceive the consequences of this to be, and whether attention problems are associated with this behavior. METHOD: More than 3,400 undergraduates attending one public and one private university in the southeastern United States completed a Web-based survey. RESULTS: Nonmedical ADHD medication use in the prior 6 months was reported by 5.4% of respondents and was positively associated with self-reported attention difficulties. Enhancing the ability to study was the most frequent motive reported; nonacademic motives were less common. Students perceived nonmedical use to be beneficial despite frequent reports of adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: Students without prescriptions use ADHD medication primarily to enhance academic performance and may do so to ameliorate attention problems that they experience as undermining their academic success. The academic, social, and biomedical consequences of illicit ADHD medication use among college students should be researched further.

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Published In

J Atten Disord

DOI

EISSN

1557-1246

Publication Date

November 2009

Volume

13

Issue

3

Start / End Page

259 / 270

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Universities
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Students
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Medication
  • Risk Factors
  • Regression Analysis
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Motivation
  • Male
 

Citation

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MLA
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Rabiner, D. L., Anastopoulos, A. D., Costello, E. J., Hoyle, R. H., McCabe, S. E., & Swartzwelder, H. S. (2009). Motives and perceived consequences of nonmedical ADHD medication use by college students: are students treating themselves for attention problems? J Atten Disord, 13(3), 259–270. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054708320399
Rabiner, David L., Arthur D. Anastopoulos, E Jane Costello, Rick H. Hoyle, Sean Esteban McCabe, and H Scott Swartzwelder. “Motives and perceived consequences of nonmedical ADHD medication use by college students: are students treating themselves for attention problems?J Atten Disord 13, no. 3 (November 2009): 259–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054708320399.
Rabiner DL, Anastopoulos AD, Costello EJ, Hoyle RH, McCabe SE, Swartzwelder HS. Motives and perceived consequences of nonmedical ADHD medication use by college students: are students treating themselves for attention problems? J Atten Disord. 2009 Nov;13(3):259–70.
Rabiner, David L., et al. “Motives and perceived consequences of nonmedical ADHD medication use by college students: are students treating themselves for attention problems?J Atten Disord, vol. 13, no. 3, Nov. 2009, pp. 259–70. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/1087054708320399.
Rabiner DL, Anastopoulos AD, Costello EJ, Hoyle RH, McCabe SE, Swartzwelder HS. Motives and perceived consequences of nonmedical ADHD medication use by college students: are students treating themselves for attention problems? J Atten Disord. 2009 Nov;13(3):259–270.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Atten Disord

DOI

EISSN

1557-1246

Publication Date

November 2009

Volume

13

Issue

3

Start / End Page

259 / 270

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Universities
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Students
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Medication
  • Risk Factors
  • Regression Analysis
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Motivation
  • Male