Category: Addictive Behaviors
Laura Holt, Ph.D.
Trinity College
West Hartford, Connecticut
Amelia Arria, Ph.D.
Professor and the Director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, Maryland
Kevin Antshel, ABPP, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
Jason Kilmer, Ph.D.
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle, Washington
Laura Holt, Ph.D.
Trinity College
West Hartford, Connecticut
Brooke S. G. Molina, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Prescription stimulant misuse (PSM), which refers to the use of stimulant medications (e.g., Adderall, Ritalin) without a prescription or in ways they are not prescribed, is most prevalent among college students (Benson et al., 2015). Moreover, the diversion of stimulant medications, which refers to giving away, selling, or trading, has increased as legitimate prescriptions have increased (McCabe et al., 2014). Indeed, most individuals reporting PSM obtain these medications from a friend/peer or misuse their own medication (Farone et al., 2020). PSM is associated with health risks and other illicit substance use (Benson et al., 2015) and does not confer any academic advantage (Arria et al., 2017). Diversion may lead prescribed students to run out of their medication early and misuse others’ medication, and it also can lead students to feel used or manipulated for their medication (Holt et al., 2018). With almost 8 million prescriptions for stimulant medications written annually (MEPS 2013-2019), and over one million to college students specifically, brief interventions for PSM and diversion are sorely needed and can benefit a large number of individuals who may already be dealing with significant challenges associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the condition for which stimulants is most often prescribed. This symposium features four presentations that describe and evaluate the preliminary efficacy and acceptability of novel approaches to preventing PSM and stimulant diversion in adolescents and college students. The first two presentations focus on preventive interventions for PSM in college settings. These approaches utilize principles of effective interventions for other substance use behaviors, including providing personalized feedback and correcting misperceptions about perceived peer norms, challenging expectancies about the benefits of stimulant misuse, and building skills to avoid high-risk situations for PSM. The third and fourth presentations discuss interventions that train prescribers and students with prescriptions on the prevalence of diversion, medication misuse, and their associated risks. Similar to the interventions above, these also target misperceptions about the efficacy of stimulants for non-prescribed individuals and focus on skill building: college students learn specific strategies to resist requests for their medication and how to communicate more effectively with their prescriber; and prescribers learn specific ways to engage parents and adolescents in discussions about medication management, risks of diversion, and avoiding diversion. Our symposium focuses on brief interventions that are being rigorously evaluated not only with respect to outcomes, but also with respect to feasibility and acceptability. Moreover, our research examines mediators of intervention effects, which can elucidate whether the interventions are working via the hypothesized mechanisms of action. We will draw on these data to discuss future directions for, and potential refinements of these interventions, in addition to plans for their dissemination in new settings and with individuals in different developmental stages. Presenter: Kevin Antshel, ABPP, Ph.D. – Syracuse University Co-author: Aesoon Park, PhD – Syracuse University Co-author: Stephen Maisto, PhD – Department of Clinical Psychology, Syracuse University; Center of Integrated Healthcare, Syracuse VA Medical Center Presenter: Jason R. Kilmer, Ph.D. – University of Washington School of Medicine Co-author: Nicole Fossos-Wong, BS – Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Co-author: Amelia Arria, Ph.D. – University of Maryland, College Park Co-author: Dolores Cimini, PhD – Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, University at Albany Co-author: Mary Larimer, Ph.D. – University of Washington, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Co-author: Kathryn Vincent, MA – Center on Young Adult Health and Development, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health Co-author: Michael Gilson, JD, PhD – Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington Co-author: Laura Longo, PhD – Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, University at Albany Co-author: Geetha Subramaniam, MD – National Institute on Drug Abuse Co-author: David Liu, MD – National Institute on Drug Abuse Presenter: Laura J. Holt, Ph.D. – Trinity College Co-author: Alison Looby, PhD – University of Wyoming Co-author: Ty Schepis, PhD – Texas State University Co-author: Samuel Benton, None – University of Wyoming Co-author: Angela Delucia, undergraduate – Trinity College Co-author: Alice Verdier, undergraduate – Trinity College Co-author: Katherine Vrotsos, BA – Texas State University Presenter: Brooke S. G. Molina, Ph.D. – University of Pittsburgh Co-author: Sarah Pedersen, PhD – University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry Co-author: Heather Joseph, DO – University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry Co-author: Heidi Kipp, MEd, LPC – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Co-author: David J. Kolko, Ph.D. – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Co-author: Elizabeth A. McGuier, Ph.D. – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Co-author: Rachel Lindstrom, Ph.D. – University of Pittsburgh Co-author: Daniel J. Bauer, Dr. – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Co-author: Geetha Subramaniam, MD – National Institute on Drug AbuseLearning Objectives:
Presentations: