Table 1.
Motive, source and route of administration for nonmedical use of prescription opioids
| Overall sample (n=4478) % | Lifetime nonmedical users (n=640) % | Female nonmedical users (n=321) % | Male nonmedical users (n=319) % | Gender differences χ2 (df) p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motive | |||||
| Because it relieves pain | 9.0 | 63.0 | 65.7 | 60.2 | NS |
| Because it gives me a high | 4.6 | 31.9 | 24.4 | 39.4 | 16.5 (1)*** |
| Because of experimentation | 3.8 | 26.8 | 18.4 | 35.3 | 23.0 (1)*** |
| Because it helps me sleep | 2.0 | 13.7 | 12.9 | 14.5 | NS |
| Because it helps decrease anxiety | 1.4 | 9.5 | 10.2 | 8.8 | NS |
| Because it's safer than street drugs | 0.5 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 5.2 | 5.0 (1)* |
| Because it counteracts the effects of other drugs | 0.3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.0 (1)* |
| Because I'm addicted | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | NS |
| Source | |||||
| Friend not from same college | 4.8 | 33.7 | 26.1 | 41.4 | 16.4 (1)*** |
| Parent | 4.0 | 28.3 | 36.1 | 20.4 | 19.1 (1)*** |
| Friend from same college | 3.9 | 27.0 | 24.9 | 29.0 | NS |
| Roommate | 1.1 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 8.2 | NS |
| Boyfriend/girlfriend | 1.1 | 7.9 | 10.0 | 5.8 | NS |
| Acquaintance not from same college | 0.9 | 6.6 | 5.7 | 7.5 | NS |
| Sibling | 0.8 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 4.5 | NS |
| Acquaintance from same college | 0.5 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 5.1 | NS |
| Other family member | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.1 | NS |
| Drug dealer | 0.5 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 6.1 | 13.1 (1)*** |
| Other | 0.4 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | NS |
| Aunt/Uncle | 0.3 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.4 | NS |
| Abroad | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | NS |
| Internet | <0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | NS |
| Route of administration | |||||
| Orally | 13.9 | 97.2 | 97.9 | 96.4 | NS |
| Snorting | 1.9 | 13.1 | 10.5 | 15.7 | NS |
| Smoking | 0.6 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 4.8 | NS |
| Inhaling | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | NS |
| Injecting | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | NS |
*
p<0.05,
***
p<0.001.
Totals exceed 100% because response categories were "select all that apply."