Heavy Drinking and Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs among University Students: A 9-Year Follow-Up

Investigations suggest non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) is
associated with heavy drinking and polydrug use among university students. Our aim is to determine
the prevalence of NMUPD among university students and to analyze its association with alcohol,
tobacco, and cannabis use, and to study the role of the age of drinking onset. Methods: Cohort study
among university Spanish students (n = 1382). Heavy drinking (HED) and risky consumption (RC)
were measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Questions related to tobacco and
cannabis consumption were also formulated. NMUPD refers to sedative, anxiety, or pain medication
intake within the last 15 days without medical prescription. All variables were measured at 18, 20,
and 27 years. Multilevel logistic regression for repeated measures was used to obtain adjusted OR
(odds ratios). We analyzed the results from a gender perspective. Results: Prevalence of NMUPD
were higher in students who already partook in NMUPD at the beginning of the study. NMUPD in
women at 27 is 3 times higher than at 18, while in men it is twice. Among females, RC (OR = 1.43)
and cannabis consumption (OR = 1.33) are risk factors for NMUPD, while later onset of alcohol
use (OR = 0.66) constitutes a protective factor. No significant differences were found for males.
Conclusions: NMUPD is prevalent among university students. RC and early onset of alcohol use
were associated with higher prevalence of NMUPD in females. The prevalence of NMUPD increased
with age in both sexes. Strategies for reducing risky drinking and delaying onset of drinking should
be provided for university students. Pharmacists and parents should be alerted to the risk of NMUPD.