THE ROLE OF ILLICIT STIMULANT USE ON ALCOHOL AND ENERGY DRINK CONSUMPTION
Open Access
Author:
Barbieri, Brittney Michele
Area of Honors:
Biobehavioral Health
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Robert James Turrisi, Thesis Supervisor Robert James Turrisi, Thesis Supervisor Kenneth N. Levy, Faculty Reader Dr. Lori Anne Francis, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
prescription stimulants energy drinks alcohol
Abstract:
The present study examines the non-medical medical use of prescription stimulants in college freshmen. The purpose is to determine how illicit use of prescription stimulants effect drinking behaviors and energy drink consumption. Survey data collected in spring 2010 for the EPIC study funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse was further examined in the present study. The final sample consists of male, first year students and weightlifters at the Pennsylvania State University. Only a small percentage (8.8%) reported non-medical use of prescription stimulants in the past year, of them approximately half (51%) had used prescription stimulants in the past 30 days. Independent sample t-tests indicated that students that have used prescription stimulants in the past year are more likely to consume energy drinks and mix alcohol with energy drinks and report heavier overall drinking tendencies.
