Introduction
Parks, Frone, Muraven, and Boyd (2016) conducted an investigation dedicated to nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) and negative sexual events (NSE) connected with this problem. The research problem of the study was to evaluate “prevalence estimates for three forms of NMUPD-associated NSE” such as “regretted sex, sexual aggression victimization, and sexual aggression perpetration,” among college students who informed on their experience of NMUPD (Parks et al., 2016, p. 259). The research questions were not singled out by the authors. However, the study regarded the issues concerning the further evaluation of the correlates of NMUPD-associated NSE (such as race, gender, school year, psychological symptoms, alcohol use, illegal drug use, and NMUPD depending on the class of drug. The main point of the research is that inappropriate use of prescription drugs leads to undesirable consequences. One such outcome is a high prevalence of NSE that is proved by previous studies. The authors support their view with the literature review that substantiates the necessity of further research of NMUPD among college students (Parks et al., 2016). The results of the current study also support the authors’ point of view concerning the increasing prevalence estimated of NMUPD among college youth.
The authors suggest a hypothesis that “due to the potential for neuropsychological impairment, all three classes of prescription drugs will be positively associated with each type of NSE, even when controlling for illicit drug use, alcohol use, and the other covariates” (Parks et al., 2016, p. 259). The research was planned to check the hypothesis and the selected methods facilitated this process. The hypothesis was prompted by the previous literature review that revealed the limited scope of studies on the problem and thus demanded a future investigation.
Evaluation of the Research Methods
Parks at al. (2016) provide a profound literature review. On the whole, the researchers investigated over 50 works to provide a theoretical basis for their study. This investigation proved the existence of a severe substance abuse problem among college students. Moreover, it revealed the burden of NMUPD that is defined as “the use of a scheduled medication without a legal prescription” (Parks et al., 2016, p. 258). Moreover, NMUPD frequently led to negative consequences, NSE in particular.
The research under analysis is current and relevant to contemporary health issues. Thus, the problem of substance abuse is one of the topics in the Healthy People 2000 initiative (“Substance abuse,” 2017). The reduction of non-medical use of prescription drugs (including pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives) is one of the objectives of the Healthy People 2000 project. This problem is not new. McCabe, West, Teter, and Boyd (2014) in their research investigated “the trends in medical use, diversion, and nonmedical use of prescription medications among college students from 2003 to 2013” (p. 1176).
The research findings showed that nearly 20% of people reported a minimum one case of nonmedical use of prescribed drugs. Moreover, despite a decrease in the nonmedical use of drugs in the period from 2003 to 2009, an increase in the unsanctioned use of prescription medications was observed as of 2013. It should also be mentioned that the problem is not limited to American society. Novak et al. (2016) investigated the nonmedical use of prescription medication in the European Union. Thus, the research based on five European countries revealed the fact that “the cross-national prevalence of NMPDU and associated characteristics of users in five EU countries” (Novak et al., 2016, p. 9). Consequently, the problem raised in the research is a timely matter.
The research utilizes a non-experimental type. This research design is appropriate to the research aims. The variables are investigated, but no manipulations with them were carried out.
The sample for this research comprised 509 students who were appropriate for the research tasks and objectives. First of all, they reported experiences of nonmedical use of stimulants, anxiolytics/sedatives, or analgesics. Secondly, they could provide data on all the variables necessary for this study. The gender representation of the sample was equal. There were 255 male and 254 female students. The students were from 18 to 30 years old with an average age of 20.3 years (Parks et al., 2016, p. 259). As for their level at school, there were 10.8% of freshmen, 25.5% of sophomores, 26.1% of juniors, and 37.5% of senior students. The racial/ethnic diversity of the sample was provided with 68.4% of Whites, 15.3% of the other or mixed race, 9.2% of Hispanics, and 7.1% of Blacks. The sample was appropriate for the research because it was representative enough and allowed to investigate the problem with attention to gender and racial aspects.
The research is practical due to its attention to the association between NMUPD and NSE among college students that were not adequately investigated earlier. It is the first study that attempted to discover “relations between nonmedical use of stimulants, anxiolytics/sedatives and analgesics and multiple NSE” among college students (Parks et al., 2016, p. 262). The authors suggest that the regular connection they revealed between the use of anxiolytic or sedative medications and repeated NSE should become a concern of college administrators and parents of students because they can cause negative consequences. Moreover, the research findings can be used to develop strategies aimed at the prevention of NMUPD and possible SNE.
Probably, the study could have been improved if the sample was taken from more than two colleges. I believe that participants from many states would allow generalizing the research findings and make the research results more reliable. Moreover, the study included only college students and disregarded other young people who can change the research results.
The writing of the article is clear and straightforward. The authors explain all the terms and abbreviations and use enough evidence. The article is well-structured with clearly defined subsections. Such an approach simplifies the perception of the material.
This subject provides broad opportunities for future research. For example, a similar study can be conducted on a larger sample. Another opportunity to enhance this topic is to conduct longitudinal research and investigate the problem in perspective. Finally, the issue can be used for experimental research aimed at the probation of the developed interventions aimed at the prevention of NMUPD.
Conclusions
On the whole, the problem of NMUPD and related SNE is a burden on contemporary society. There are not many studies investigating this aspect among college students who make a vulnerable population in the context of substance abuse. I consider this work to be an excellent example of non-experimental research. It involved a large sample and provided a thorough statistical analysis. The research findings can have practical implications including those for nursing care because nurses can design interventions to prevent NMUPD and thus contribute to the improvement of this situation.
References
McCabe, S., West, B., Teter, C., & Boyd, C. (2014). Trends in medical use, diversion, and nonmedical use of prescription medications among college students from 2003 to 2013: Connecting the dots. Addictive Behaviors, 39(7), 1176-1182. Web.
Novak, S., Håkansson, A., Martinez-Raga, J., Reimer, J., Krotki, K., & Varughese, S. (2016). Nonmedical use of prescription drugs in the European Union. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1), 1-12. Web.
Parks, K., Frone, M., Muraven, M., & Boyd, C. (2016). Nonmedical use of prescription drugs and related negative sexual events: Prevalence estimates and correlates in college students. Addictive Behaviors, 65, 258-263. Web.
Substance abuse. (2017). Web.