Abstract
Although considerable research attention is paid to the misuse of controlled medications, a relatively small number of studies focus on prescription opioid misuse (POM) among racial/ethnic minority adolescents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of POM among adolescents in the three largest racial/ethnic groups (Whites, Hispanics, Blacks) and identify demographic and psychosocial factors that increase the risk of POM. Additionally, the authors applied concepts from social bonding theory and social learning theory to determine the extent to which these concepts explain adolescent POM among each group. Using data from the 2012 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to determine which factors were associated with an increased risk of POM. Results show that Blacks (6.08 %) have the highest prevalence rate of adolescent POM and risk factors vary by race/ethnicity. These findings are important in that they enhance the ability of prescribers to identify high-risk adolescent patients and help to make prevention interventions more culturally relevant.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akers, R. L. (1998). Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and deviance. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Akers, R. L., & Lee, G. (1999). Age, social learning, and social bonding in adolescent substance use. Deviant Behavior, 19, 1–25.
Birnbaum, H. G., White, A. G., Schiller, M., Waldman, T., Cleveland, J. M., & Roland, C. L. (2011). Societal costs of prescription opioid abuse, dependence, and misuse in the United States. Pain Medicine, 12, 657–667.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2010). Emergency department visits involving nonmedical use of selected prescription drugs—United States, 2004–2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(23), 705. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm5923.pdf.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2011). Vital signs: Overdoses of prescription opioid pain relievers—United States, 1999–2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 60(43), 1487. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6043.pdf.
Clarot, F., Goulle, J. P., Vaz, E., & Proust, B. (2003). Fatal overdoses of tramadol: Is benzodiazepine a risk factor of lethality? Forensic Science International, 134, 57–61.
Compton, W. M., & Volkow, N. D. (2006). Abuse of prescription drugs and the risk of addiction. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 83, S4–S7.
DeWit, D. J. (1998). Frequent childhood geographic relocation: Its impact on drug use initiation and the development of alcohol and other drug-related problems among adolescents and young adults. Addictive Behaviors, 23, 623–634.
Ford, J. A., & Hill, T. D. (2012). Religiosity and adolescent substance use: Evidence from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Use & Misuse, 47, 787–798.
Ford, J. A., & McCutcheon, J. (2012). The misuse of Ambien among adolescents: Prevalence and correlates in a national sample. Addictive Behaviors, 37, 1389–1394.
Ford, J. A., & Rivera, F. I. (2008). Nonmedical prescription drug use among Hispanics. Journal of Drug Issues, 38, 285.
Fortuna, R. J., Robbins, B. W., Caiola, E., Joynt, M., & Halterman, J. S. (2010). Prescribing of controlled medications to adolescents and young adults in the United States. Pediatrics, 126, 1108–1116.
Harrell, Z. A., & Broman, C. L. (2009). Racial/ethnic differences in correlates of prescription drug misuse among young adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 104, 268–271.
Havens, J. R., Young, A. M., & Havens, C. E. (2011). Nonmedical prescription drug use in a nationally representative sample of adolescents: Evidence of greater use among rural adolescents. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 165(3), 250–255.
Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Kipke, M. D., Weiss, G., & Wong, C. F. (2007). Residential status as a risk factor for drug use and HIV risk among young men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior, 11, 56–69.
McCabe, S. E. (2005). Correlates of nonmedical use of prescription benzodiazepine anxiolytics: Results from a national survey of U.S. college students. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 79, 53–62.
McCabe, S. E., West, B. T., Morales, M., Cranford, J. A., & Boyd, C. J. (2007). Does early onset of non‐medical use of prescription drugs predict subsequent prescription drug abuse and dependence? Results from a national study. Addiction, 102, 1920–1930.
McCabe, S. E., West, B. T., Teter, C. J., & Boyd, C. J. (2012). Medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids among high school seniors in the United States. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 166, 797–802.
Ogle, A., Moore, K., Barrett, B., Young, M. S., & Pearson, J. (2012). Clinical history and characteristics of persons with oxycodone-related deaths in Hillsborough County, Florida in 2009. Forensic Science International, 223, 47–52.
Rigg, K. K., & DeCamp, W. (2014). Explaining prescription opioid misuse among veterans: A theory-based analysis using structural equation modeling. Military Behavioral Health, 2, 210–216.
Rigg, K. K., & Ford, J. A. (2014). The misuse of benzodiazepines among adolescents: Psychosocial risk factors in a national sample. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 137, 137–142.
Rigg, K. K., & Ibañez, G. E. (2010). Motivations for non-medical prescription drug use: A mixed methods analysis. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 39, 236–247.
Rigg, K. K., & Murphy, J. W. (2013). Understanding the etiology of prescription opioid abuse: Implications for prevention and treatment. Qualitative Health Research, 23, 963–975.
Rigg, K. K., March, S. J., & Inciardi, J. A. (2010). Prescription drug abuse & diversion: Role of the pain clinic. Journal of Drug Issues, 40, 681.
Rivera, F. I. (2007). Contextualizing the experience of young Latino adults: Acculturation, social support and depression. Journal of Immigrant Minority Health, 9, 237–244.
Shih, R. A., Miles, J. N., Tucker, J. S., Zhou, A. J., & D’Amico, E. J. (2010). Racial/ethnic differences in adolescent substance use: Mediation by individual, family, and school factors. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 71, 640–651.
Simoni-Wastila, L., & Strickler, G. (2004). Risk factors associated with problem use of prescription drugs. American Journal of Public Health, 94, 266–268.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]. (2010). Treatment Episode Data Set report: Substance abuse treatment admissions involving abuse of pain relievers: 1998–2008. Retrieved from http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k10/230/230PainRelvr2k10.htm.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]. (2013). Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2011: National Estimates of Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 13–4760, DAWN Series D-39. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k13/DAWN2k11ED/DAWN2k11ED.htm.
Sung, H. E., Richter, L., Vaughan, R., Johnson, P. B., & Thom, B. (2005). Nonmedical use of prescription opioids among teenagers in the United States: Trends and correlates. Journal of Adolescent Health, 37, 44–51.
Watkins, W. C., & Ford, J. A. (2011). Prescription drug misuse among Asian-American adults: Results from a national survey. Substance Use & Misuse, 46, 1700–1708.
Wu, L. T., Pilowsky, D. J., & Patkar, A. A. (2008). Non-prescribed use of pain relievers among adolescents in the United States. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 94, 1–11.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ford, J.A., Rigg, K.K. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Factors That Place Adolescents at Risk for Prescription Opioid Misuse. Prev Sci 16, 633–641 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-014-0514-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-014-0514-y