Subject Area
Sociology
Description
100 students between the ages of 18-22 were surveyed at a small, private New England college in an effort to develop a better understanding of the use of stimulant medications by this population and to evaluate existing and potential policies surrounding such use. Finding revealed high rates of illicit use of such medications with 56% of the surveyed sample reporting to use during their college career and 94% responding that they were aware of such use on campus. A statistically significant relationship was identified between students that illicitly used the medications and students that believe the drugs were harmless. In addition, a significant relationship was also discovered between students that reported to believe the drugs were harmless and those that believed that they knew enough to safely use the medications. The results provide substantial evidence for a need for policies surrounding the illicit use of stimulant medications on college campuses. The drugs are viewed by students to be harmless but in reality they ethically, legally and most importantly physically dangerous to those that use them without a prescription. Colleges must make an effort to increase awareness of these medications and develop policies to control their use.
Publisher
Providence College
Date
Spring 2010
Type
Thesis
Format
Text
Language
English
Comments
A project based on independent investigation, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. Originally written for the Theory Practice Seminar, Providence College, 2010.