The misuse of benzodiazepines among adolescents: Psychosocial risk factors in a national sample

    Authors

    K. K. Rigg;J. A. Ford

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Drug Alcohol Depend.

    Keywords

    Benzodiazepine misuse; Adolescents; Prevention; Psychiatry; Risk; factors; Prescription medications; Prescribing; Social theory; PRESCRIPTION DRUG-USE; NONMEDICAL USE; SUBSTANCE USE; ABUSE; DELINQUENCY; WITHDRAWAL; DISORDERS; Substance Abuse; Psychiatry

    Abstract

    Background: The misuse of benzodiazepines (BZs) among adolescents is an important issue within the fields of mental health, medicine, and public health. Though there is an increasing amount of research on prescription medication misuse, a relatively small number of studies focus on adolescent BZ misuse. The goal of this study, therefore, is to identify demographic and psychosocial factors that place adolescents at risk for misusing BZs. Additionally, the authors applied concepts from social bonding theory, social learning theory, and strain theory to determine the extent to which these concepts explain BZ misuse. Methods: Using data from the 2011 National Survey of Drug Use & Health, multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to determine which factors were associated with an increased risk of BZ misuse. Results: These findings help to describe the psychosocial profile of adolescent BZ misusers which should increase the ability of clinicians to identify patients who may be at greater risk for misuse. Conclusion: This study is particularly important within the context of psychiatry, where a clearer understanding of adolescent BZ misuse is critical for informing prevention efforts and developing best practices for prescribing BZs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Drug and Alcohol Dependence

    Volume

    137

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    137

    Last Page

    142

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000334134200018

    ISSN

    0376-8716

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