Prescription Stimulant Misuse by Undergraduate Students at Public Universities in the United States: The Prospective Benefits of an Integrative Peer Mentoring Program
Date
April 2022
Location
Schewel 207
Description
Undergraduate students in the United States face immense pressure to succeed academically as well as balance their busy lifestyles, leading them to pursue unhealthy coping mechanisms such as sensation-seeking and substance abuse. This research examines surveys designed to determine why students misuse prescription stimulants, where exposure to prescription stimulants occur, how students fall into the cycle of misuse, and how institutions of higher education can better support students through integrative peer mentoring programs. Results indicated that students begin misusing prescription stimulants as a means of studying and completing schoolwork, students are exposed to prescription stimulants in the college social scene by individuals who are already prescribed stimulants or have access to others' prescription stimulants, many students misusing prescription stimulants may have undiagnosed learning impediments such as ADHD, prescription stimulant misuse is an ongoing issue on college campuses because academic institutions have not made successful comprehensive efforts to support students, and integrative peer mentoring programs have demonstrated positive effects for student support in higher education.
Presentation Type
Presentation
Prescription Stimulant Misuse by Undergraduate Students at Public Universities in the United States: The Prospective Benefits of an Integrative Peer Mentoring Program
Schewel 207
Undergraduate students in the United States face immense pressure to succeed academically as well as balance their busy lifestyles, leading them to pursue unhealthy coping mechanisms such as sensation-seeking and substance abuse. This research examines surveys designed to determine why students misuse prescription stimulants, where exposure to prescription stimulants occur, how students fall into the cycle of misuse, and how institutions of higher education can better support students through integrative peer mentoring programs. Results indicated that students begin misusing prescription stimulants as a means of studying and completing schoolwork, students are exposed to prescription stimulants in the college social scene by individuals who are already prescribed stimulants or have access to others' prescription stimulants, many students misusing prescription stimulants may have undiagnosed learning impediments such as ADHD, prescription stimulant misuse is an ongoing issue on college campuses because academic institutions have not made successful comprehensive efforts to support students, and integrative peer mentoring programs have demonstrated positive effects for student support in higher education.