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Project

The misuse of prescription stimulants as cognitive enhancers among Flemish university and college students: the process of prescribing, supplying and acquiring.

The university or college experience is often viewed as a time of transition, experimentation and risk-taking, especially with regard to substance misuse. While there has been an abundance of research on alcohol and marijuana misuse, other areas of this research field remain relatively unexplored, in particular the scientific knowledge on the misuse of prescription stimulants – generally prescribed to treat Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorders (AD(H)D) – by students as a means for performance enhancement. Exploratory research in Flanders reported a prevalence of up to 10% of Flemish students using prescription stimulants during the exams, resulting in considerable attention in the news media. However, there is a clear dearth in scientific knowledge on (1) which student groups are vulnerable to such drug misuse and why they misuse these stimulants (demand side) and (2) how these students access the prescription drugs (supply side). The proposed study aims to fill these research gaps and generate scientific knowledge on stimulant misuse in Flanders. From a theoretical point of view, a comprehensive theoretical model, the theory of triadic influence, will be used to disentangle the complex mechanisms through which the decision to misuse ADHD drugs can be explained. From a methodological point of view a comprehensive mixed-methods research design will be used focusing on three vital stakeholders: students, general practitioners and pharmacists.
Date:1 Oct 2016 →  1 Dec 2018
Keywords:ADDICTION, SUBSTANCE USE
Disciplines:Applied sociology, Policy and administration, Social psychology, Social stratification, Social theory and sociological methods, Sociology of life course, family and health, Other sociology and anthropology