Adolescent health brief
Misuse of Over-the-Counter Cough or Cold Medications Among Adolescents: Prevalence and Correlates in a National Sample

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.10.140Get rights and content

Abstract

The current research examines the misuse of over-the-counter cough/cold medications among adolescents with data from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Findings indicate that age, gender, family income, physical and mental health, and the use of alcohol and other drugs are correlates of the misuse of over-the-counter cough/cold medications.

Section snippets

Methods

Data for the current study are the 2006 NSDUH, a public use data file prepared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [10]. The primary purpose of the NSDUH is to measure the prevalence and correlates of drug use in the United States. A nationally representative sample of 67,802 persons aged 12 and older was generated using a state-based sampling plan, including all 50 states and Washington, DC. The current research focused on respondents between the ages of 12 and 17,

Results

Sample characteristics are shown in Table 1. Nearly 4% of respondents reported lifetime OTC medication misuse, 2% reported past year misuse, and less than 1% reported misuse in the past 30 days. The sample was approximately 51% male, 40% nonwhite, 51% reported a family income of $50,000 or greater, 52% lived in a large urban area, and 31% attended church regularly. A small percentage of the sample reported serious health-related problems, 3% reported their overall health as fair or poor, and 8%

Discussion

Although the prevalence of illicit drug use has declined in recent years among adolescents, the use of “legal” drugs has increased. Prescription and OTC medications are more accessible, relatively cheap, more socially accepted, there is less likelihood of criminal penalties and other sanctions, and there is a perception that they are safer than traditional “street” drugs. All of this may provide adolescents with a “false sense” of safety about using prescription and OTC medications. Although

References (10)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (31)

  • Misuse of OTC drugs in Poland

    2016, Health Policy
    Citation Excerpt :

    Moreover, these substances are more socially acceptable and are being indicated as safer than traditional illicit substances [1,9]. Furthermore, online access to medicines contributes to their increasing popularity [1]. In spite of the fact that misuse of OTC drugs is a global public health concern [8], preventive programs are insufficient and are not effective proportionally to the scope of the problem [10].

  • Nod and wave: An Internet study of the codeine intoxication phenomenon

    2015, International Journal of Drug Policy
    Citation Excerpt :

    Wide ranging profiles, characteristics and degrees of non-medical use of codeine are identified in the literature. Studies include the parental medication of children with codeine products (Allotey, Reidpath, & Elisha, 2004), recreational use of codeine cough syrups among young drug users (Agnich et al., 2013; Elwood, 2001; Ford, 2009; Lam & Shek, 2006; Peters et al., 2003; Peters, Amos, et al., 2007; Peters, Williams, Ross, Atkinson, & Yacoubian, 2007; Peters, Yacoubian, et al., 2007; Shek & Lam, 2006, 2008; Tang et al., 2012; Wilson et al., 2010; Lao et al., 2010), codeine products used by university students (Acocella, 2005), codeine use as reported by pharmacy customers (Albsoul-Younes et al., 2010; Sweileh et al., 2004) and older adults (Agaba et al., 2004; Roumie & Griffin, 2004), and prevalence of codeine dependence in psychiatric (Agyapong et al., 2011) and addiction treatment patients (Akram & Roberts, 2003; Cohen et al., 2009; Cooper, 2013b; Myers et al., 2003; Nielsen et al., 2011a, 2011b; Thekiso & Farren, 2010; Yang & Yuan, 2008). Whilst the Internet is not viewed as a significant source for diversion of opioids (Inciardi et al., 2007, 2009) such as codeine, it is increasingly utilised to inform and support knowledge exchange between drug users (Boyer et al., 2007; Smith & Stewart, 2012; Van Hout & Bingham, 2013).

  • Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications

    2013, Principles of Addiction: Comprehensive Addictive Behaviors and Disorders, Volume 1
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text