Prevalence of nonmedical methamphetamine use in the United States

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Illicit methamphetamine use continues to be a public health concern in the United States. The goal of the current study was to use a relatively inexpensive methodology to examine the prevalence and demographic correlates of nonmedical methamphetamine use in the United States.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample was obtained through an internet survey of noninstitutionalized adults (n = 4,297) aged 18 to 49 in the United States in 2005. Propensity weighting methods using information from the U.S. Census and the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were used to estimate national-level prevalence rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of current nonmedical methamphetamine use was estimated to be 0.27%. Lifetime use was estimated to be 8.6%. Current use rates for men (0.32%) and women (0.23%) did not differ, although men had a higher 3-year prevalence rate (3.1%) than women (1.1%). Within the age subgroup with the highest overall methamphetamine use (18 to 25 year olds), non-students had substantially higher methamphetamine use (0.85% current; 2.4% past year) than students (0.23% current; 0.79% past year). Methamphetamine use was not constrained to those with publicly funded health care insurance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Through the use of an internet panel weighted to reflect U.S. population norms, the estimated lifetime prevalence of methamphetamine use among 18 to 49 year olds was 8.6%. These findings give rates of use comparable to those reported in the 2005 NSDUH. Internet surveys are a relatively inexpensive way to provide complimentary data to telephone or in-person interviews.</p

The nonmedical use of prescription ADHD medications: results from a national Internet panel

© 2007 Novak et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

The nonmedical use of prescription ADHD medications: results from a national Internet panel-2

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The nonmedical use of prescription ADHD medications: results from a national Internet panel"</p><p>http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/2/1/32</p><p>Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2007;2():32-32.</p><p>Published online 31 Oct 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2211747.</p><p></p>lation who used any of the listed drugs at the same time or within a couple of hours of using ADHD medications nonmedically in the past year (including error bars). Estimates are not mutually exclusive. Bars represent 95% confidence intervals. ADHD = attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.* Examples given included painkillers, tranquilizers, or sleeping pills. Use in combination (either at the same time or within a few hours) with ADHD medications could include legitimate prescription use or nonmedical use of other medications

The nonmedical use of prescription ADHD medications: results from a national Internet panel-0

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The nonmedical use of prescription ADHD medications: results from a national Internet panel"</p><p>http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/2/1/32</p><p>Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2007;2():32-32.</p><p>Published online 31 Oct 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2211747.</p><p></p>old that they had ADHD or were never prescribed medications specifically for ADHD and who were estimated to have obtained diverted medications in specific ways (including error bars). Estimates are not mutually exclusive. Bars represent 95% confidence intervals. ADHD = attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. * Stolen from friends, family members, or other sources. Obtained fraudulently by mispresenting symptoms or presenting to a physician who "didn't ask too many questions.

The nonmedical use of prescription ADHD medications: results from a national Internet panel-1

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The nonmedical use of prescription ADHD medications: results from a national Internet panel"</p><p>http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/2/1/32</p><p>Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2007;2():32-32.</p><p>Published online 31 Oct 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2211747.</p><p></p>cific primary motivations for misusing ADHD medications (including error bars). Percentages sum to less than 100 because of missing data from respondents who were not sure of their answer or refused to answer. Bars represent 95% confidence intervals. ADHD = attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.* Response option available only to those who reported past 12-month alcohol use