Prevalence and Correlates of Prescription Drug Misuse Among Young, Low-Income Women Receiving Public Healthcare

• NCJ Number: 236987
• Journal: Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2011 Pages: 203-215
• Author(s): Abbey B. Berenson, M.D., M.M.S.; Mahbubur Rahman, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., M.P.H.
• Date Published: July 2011
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): K24HD043659
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the prevalence and correlates of prescription drug misuse among young, low-income women.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of prescription drug misuse among young, low-income women seeking care at a public clinic in Texas. Collected data on 2,976 women included frequency of use, demographic and reproductive characteristics, religiosity, smoking history, concurrent substance use, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, health beliefs, and exposure to traumatic events. Overall, 30 percent reported ever misusing a prescription drug and 15 percent reported misuse in the past year. Women who initiated sexual intercourse at younger than 15 years, used illicit drugs, and smoked everyday were more likely to have misused prescription drugs. Higher trauma, stress, and posttraumatic stress scores also were associated with ever misusing prescription drugs. This study adds to limited data available on medication misuse by young women who have few resources and demonstrates needs for prevention efforts in public clinics. (Published Abstract)