Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs among Youths and Young Adults. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

摘要

The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) asks respondents aged 12 or older to report their most recent use of nonmedical prescription-type drugs, as well as their age at first use. Based on the responses to these questions,the prevalence of lifetime and past year use and the annual numbers of new (i.e., first-time) users are estimated. Use was defined as nonmedical if the drug was not prescribed for the respondent or if the respondent took the drug only for the experience or feeling it caused. Prescription-type drugs do not include over-the-counter drugs and are classified in four categories: pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. Responses were analyzed by the type of county in which the respondents lived at the time of the interview.