Non-medical use of prescription stimulants for weight loss in adolescents

 描述（由申请人提供）：处方药（NMUPD;即，没有医生的处方）在年轻人和青少年中。2011年，NMUPD是这些年龄组中第二大最普遍的非法药物使用类别，仅次于大麻。事实上，NMUPD参与的急诊室（ER）访问比使用所有非法物质的总和还要多。最近非医疗使用处方兴奋剂（NMUPS），用于治疗注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）的药物，如Adderall和Ritalin，特别令人担忧。2005年至2010年期间，与滥用这些药物有关的急诊室就诊人数增加了两倍多。关于兴奋剂滥用的一个相关问题，特别是青少年，是它们在抑制食欲方面的作用。鉴于越来越多的青少年报告从事减肥行为，滥用兴奋剂控制体重可能会吸引一些年轻人。然而，关于这一主题的实证研究很少，而且大多数研究都只包括年轻人。用于减肥的NMUPS与其他物质使用、饮食行为紊乱和精神病理学有关。由于青少年是参与NMUPS的第二大年龄组，并且他们处于饮食失调行为的高风险中，因此有必要研究该年龄组的这种现象。因此，拟议的研究将审查这一行为的样本中的青少年使用调查和定性的方法。评估的结构将包括：NMUPS和动机，与NMUPS相关的后果，药物知识，其他娱乐性药物使用，饮食失调，精神病理学和计划行为理论（TPB）结构：态度，主观规范和感知控制与NMUPS减肥。主要假设如下：1）至少一些参与者会报告NMUPS减肥; 2）与那些试图减肥而不参与NMUPS的人相比，参与NMUPS减肥的人也会参与更多有问题的健康行为，并且心理健康状况较差，以及那些不试图减肥的人; 3）这些人将表现出适应不良的认知，包括更高的行为正常性和更少的知识，这种滥用的危险。将使用协方差、相关性、回归、卡方和定性数据的主题分析的多变量分析来检验这些假设。结果将提供洞察哪些可改变的因素与NMUPS减肥最密切相关，告知意识，预防和干预工作。这个项目也将为我的研究生涯奠定坚实的基础，并促进我向独立研究的过渡。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There has been a dramatic increase in the non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD; i.e., without a doctor's prescription) among young adults and adolescents. In 2011, NMUPD was the second most prevalent category of illicit drug use in these age groups, following marijuana. Indeed, NMUPD is involved in more emergency room (ER) visits than use of all illicit substances combined. The recent rise in the non-medical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS), medications used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall and Ritalin, is particularly concerning. ER visits related to misuse of these drugs has more than tripled between 2005 and 2010. One relevant concern regarding stimulant misuse, especially with adolescents, is their role in appetite suppression. Given the increasing number of adolescents who report engaging in weight loss behaviors, misuse of stimulants for weight control might appeal to some youth. However, there has been minimal empirical research on this topic, and the majority has exclusively included young adults. NMUPS for weight loss is associated with other substance use, disordered eating behaviors, and psychopathology. Because adolescents are the second largest age group to engage in NMUPS, and they are at high risk for disordered eating behaviors, research is warranted to examine this phenomenon in this age group. Thus, the proposed research will examine this behavior in a sample of adolescents using both survey and qualitative methods. Constructs assessed will include: NMUPS and motivations, consequences associated with NMUPS, medication knowledge, other recreational drug use, disordered eating, psychopathology, and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs: attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control related to NMUPS for weight loss. Key hypotheses are as follows: 1) at least some participants will report NMUPS for weight loss; 2) individuals who engage in NMUPS for weight loss will also engage in more problematic health behaviors and have poorer psychosocial health compared to those who are trying to lose weight without engaging in NMUPS, and those who are not trying to lose weight; 3) these individuals will demonstrate maladaptive cognitions, including higher perceived normality of the behavior and less knowledge about the dangers of such misuse. A multivariate analysis of covariance, correlations, regressions, chi-squares, and thematic analysis of qualitative data will be used to test these hypotheses. Results will provide insight into which modifiable factors are most strongly associated with NMUPS for weight loss, informing awareness, prevention, and intervention efforts. This project will also provide a solid foundation for my research career and facilitate my transition to research independence.