TY - JOUR
T1 - Dispelling the myth of "smart drugs"
T2 - Cannabis and alcohol use problems predict nonmedical use of prescription stimulants for studying
AU - Arria, Amelia M.
AU - Wilcox, Holly C.
AU - Caldeira, Kimberly M.
AU - Vincent, Kathryn B.
AU - Garnier-Dykstra, Laura M.
AU - O'Grady, Kevin E.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01-DA14845 and P50-DA027841). The National Institute on Drug Abuse had no further role in the study design; in the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Funding Information:
Amelia M. Arria received a small research grant from Ortho McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs in 2008. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - This study tested the hypothesis that college students' substance use problems would predict increases in skipping classes and declining academic performance, and that nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NPS) for studying would occur in association with this decline. A cohort of 984 students in the College Life Study at a large public university in the US participated in a longitudinal prospective study. Interviewers assessed NPS; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) cannabis and alcohol use disorders; and frequency of skipping class. Semester grade point average (GPA) was obtained from the university. Control variables were race, sex, family income, high school GPA, and self-reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis. Longitudinal growth curve modeling of four annual data waves estimated the associations among the rates of change of cannabis use disorder, percentage of classes skipped, and semester GPA. The associations between these trajectories and NPS for studying were then evaluated. A second structural model substituted alcohol use disorder for cannabis use disorder. More than one-third (38%) reported NPS for studying at least once by Year 4. Increases in skipping class were associated with both alcohol and cannabis use disorder, which were associated with declining GPA. The hypothesized relationships between these trajectories and NPS for studying were confirmed. These longitudinal findings suggest that escalation of substance use problems during college is related to increases in skipping class and to declining academic performance. NPS for studying is associated with academic difficulties. Although additional research is needed to investigate causal pathways, these results suggest that nonmedical users of prescription stimulants could benefit from a comprehensive drug and alcohol assessment to possibly mitigate future academic declines.
AB - This study tested the hypothesis that college students' substance use problems would predict increases in skipping classes and declining academic performance, and that nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NPS) for studying would occur in association with this decline. A cohort of 984 students in the College Life Study at a large public university in the US participated in a longitudinal prospective study. Interviewers assessed NPS; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) cannabis and alcohol use disorders; and frequency of skipping class. Semester grade point average (GPA) was obtained from the university. Control variables were race, sex, family income, high school GPA, and self-reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis. Longitudinal growth curve modeling of four annual data waves estimated the associations among the rates of change of cannabis use disorder, percentage of classes skipped, and semester GPA. The associations between these trajectories and NPS for studying were then evaluated. A second structural model substituted alcohol use disorder for cannabis use disorder. More than one-third (38%) reported NPS for studying at least once by Year 4. Increases in skipping class were associated with both alcohol and cannabis use disorder, which were associated with declining GPA. The hypothesized relationships between these trajectories and NPS for studying were confirmed. These longitudinal findings suggest that escalation of substance use problems during college is related to increases in skipping class and to declining academic performance. NPS for studying is associated with academic difficulties. Although additional research is needed to investigate causal pathways, these results suggest that nonmedical users of prescription stimulants could benefit from a comprehensive drug and alcohol assessment to possibly mitigate future academic declines.
KW - Academic Performance
KW - Alcohol
KW - Cannabis
KW - College students
KW - Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84871040953&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.10.002
DO - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.10.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 23254212
AN - SCOPUS:84871040953
SN - 0306-4603
VL - 38
SP - 1643
EP - 1650
JO - Addictive Behaviors
JF - Addictive Behaviors
IS - 3
ER -