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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association
between Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition
(DSM-IV), alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) and nonmedical use of prescription drugs
(NMPD) among U.S. college students. A secondary aim of this study was to identify
individual-level and college-level characteristics associated with the co-occurrence
of AUDs and NMPD. METHOD: Data were collected from self-administered mail surveys,
sent to a random sample of approximately 14,000 college students from a nationally
representative sample of 119 U.S. colleges and universities. RESULTS: Among
U.S. college students, those with AUDs represented approximately 75% of nonmedical
users of prescription drugs. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated
that college students with past-year DSM-IV alcohol abuse only (adjusted odds
ratio [AOR]=4.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.59-5.55) and students with
past-year DSM-IV alcohol dependence (AOR=9.17, 95% CI=7.05-11.93) had significantly
increased odds of NMPD in the past year compared with students without AUDs.
The co-occurrence of AUDs and NMPD was more likely among college students who
were male, white, earned lower grade point averages, and attended co-ed colleges
and institutions located in Southern or Northeastern U.S. regions. CONCLUSIONS:
The findings provide evidence that NMPD is more prevalent among those college
students with AUDs, especially individuals with past-year DSM-IV alcohol dependence.
The assessment and treatment of AUDs among college students should account for
other forms of drug use such as NMPD.
Keywords: Mental Health; Illicit Drugs
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