A Qualitative Study of Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use

描述（由申请人提供）：我们提出了一个为期36个月的项目，在旧金山弗朗西斯科进行非医疗处方兴奋剂使用者的QUAL/quan混合方法研究。我们将“非医疗处方兴奋剂使用”定义为以非处方方式使用处方兴奋剂，包括用于认知表现增强，娱乐目的，或用于ADHD类型或其他问题的自我治疗。大学生中处方兴奋剂的非医疗使用已经有很好的记录。迄今为止，研究忽略了整个人口的非学生谁使用非医疗处方兴奋剂作为性能增强的工作或娱乐。我们不知道的是老年人是如何非医学地使用处方兴奋剂的。因此，我们将在三个年龄组中对非医疗处方兴奋剂使用者的经验进行QUAL/quan混合方法研究。使用自适应交叉性理论框架，我们将对150名参与者进行深入的定性访谈。50名年龄在18 - 25岁之间，50名年龄在26 - 45奥尔兹之间， 第一批（从1994年开始）接受ADHD药物治疗的人中，有50人年龄在46岁及以上。所有参与者在访谈前的12个月内至少6次非医学使用处方兴奋剂。我们将研究处方兴奋剂的类型以及使用其他处方药和/或街头毒品或酒精来对抗或增强处方兴奋剂的影响。我们将探讨个体因素的交叉点，包括有助于决定非医学使用处方兴奋剂的生命阶段和社会位置，使用动机，对处方兴奋剂使用的风险和益处的了解，经历的任何不良健康或社会后果，处方兴奋剂的可用性和转移，与非医疗处方兴奋剂使用有关的态度和行为的差异以及各年龄组之间关于上述所有方面的差异。调查结果将有助于我们理解用户的经验，包括使用动机，决策过程，风险的看法，使用的健康和社会后果，处方兴奋剂的来源，以及年龄组对上述所有的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose a 36-month project to conduct a QUAL/quan mixed methods study of nonmedical prescription stimulant users in San Francisco. We define "nonmedical prescription stimulant use" as the use of prescription stimulants in a manner other than prescribed, including use for cognitive performance enhancement, recreational purposes, or to self-medicate for ADHD-type or other problems. Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among college students has been well documented. To date, research studies ignore an entire population of non students who use nonmedical prescription stimulants as performance enhancers for work or recreation. What we do not know is how older adults use prescription stimulants nonmedically. Thus, we will conduct a QUAL/quan mixed method study of the experiences of nonmedical prescription stimulant users in three age cohorts. Using an adaptive intersectionality theoretical framework, we will conduct in-depth qualitative interviews with 150 participants. Fifty will be between 18 - 25 years of age, fifty 26 - 45 year olds who make up the first cohort (beginning in 1994) of recipients of ADHD medications, and fifty who are 46 and older. All participants will have used prescription stimulants nonmedically at least six times in the twelve months prior to interview. We will examine the types of prescription stimulants and the use of other prescription drugs and/or street drugs or alcohol to counter or enhance the effects of prescription stimulants. We will explore the intersection of individual factors, includig life stage and social location that contribute to decisions to use prescription stimulants nonmedically, motivations to use, knowledge about risks and benefits of prescription stimulant use, any adverse health or social consequences experienced, availability and diversion of prescription stimulants, differences in attitudes and behaviors relating to nonmedical prescription stimulant use and differences among the various age groups concerning all of the above. Findings will contribute to our understandings of users' experiences, including motivations to use, decision-making processes, perceptions of risk, health and social consequences of use, sources of prescription stimulants, and impact of age cohort on all of the above.