Coming to terms with the nonmedical use of prescription medications
2008
Understanding Nonmedical Use of Prescription Medications
Commentary
Author Information
Author(s): Boyd Carol J, McCabe Sean E
Primary Institution: University of Michigan
Hypothesis
The current measurement of nonmedical use of prescription medications in national studies is inadequate.
Conclusion
The authors propose a new way to conceptualize and measure nonmedical use to better understand its complexities.
Supporting Evidence
- The term nonmedical use encompasses a variety of behaviors and motivations.
- Current national studies fail to capture the complexity of nonmedical use.
- Different surveys use varying questions, leading to inconsistent data.
Takeaway
Some people use prescription medications in ways that aren't approved by doctors, and researchers need better questions to understand why they do this.
Limitations
Existing national studies do not adequately assess the motivations and behaviors associated with nonmedical use.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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