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Motives And Behaviors of Medical Students (mis)using Prescription Stimulants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

G. Fond ,
F. Berna  and
P. Domenech
G. Fond
Affiliation:
Schizophrenia Expert Center Fondation Fondamental, Creteil, France
F. Berna*
Affiliation:
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, inserm U1114, FMTS, Fondation FondaMental, Psychiatry, Strasbourg cedex, France
P. Domenech
Affiliation:
Inserm U955, Translational Psychiatry team, Créteil, France Paris Est University, DHU Pe-PSY, Pôle de Psychiatrie des Hôpitaux Universitaires H.-Mondor & Spine Institute, CRICM, UPMC, Inserm UMR_S 975, CNRS UMR 7225, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, Brain & Spine Institute, CRICM, UPMC, Inserm UMR_S 975, CNRS UMR 7225, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, Créteil, France
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Aims

To estimate the prevalence of psychostimulant use in French medical undergraduate and postgraduate students, associated consumption behaviors and motives.

Design

A population-based cross-sectional study using a self-administered online survey.

Participants

A total of 1718 French students and physicians (mean age 26.84 ± 7.19 years, 37.1% male).

Measurements

Self-reported lifetime use, motives, socio-demographic and academic features for other the counter (OTC), medically prescribed (MPP), and Illicit (IP) psychostimulant users.

Findings

Lifetime prevalence of psychostimulant use was 33% (29.7% for OTC, 6.7% for MPP and 5.2% for IP). OTC consumption mainly aimed at increasing wakefulness during competitive exams preparation and internship. OTC consumption was twice more frequent among users of other psychostimulants (MPP and/or IP). Most of OTC consumers began their consumption during exam preparation. Corticoids were the most frequently consumed MPP (4.5%) before methylphenidate and modafinil (1.5% and 0.8%, respectively). Unlike corticoids, methylphenidate and modafinil prescriptions are tightly regulated in France. Motives for MPP consumption were increased academic performance/concentration–memory and wakefulness. in that respect, restrictions on methylphenidate and modafinil prescriptions seem to be effective at limiting misuse. Corticoids were mostly consumed by interns seeking for wakefulness. Overall, 5.2% of the subjects consumed at least once IP, mostly cocaine and amphetamine derivatives. They sought euphoria and/or novelty.

Conclusions

Psychostimulant use is common among French undergraduate students, interns and postgraduate physicians. The type of drug used seems to depend mainly on product availability. increased rates of corticoids consumption for wakefulness purposes suggest another potential public health problem, as corticoids may have severe side effects.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
EV644
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 33 , Issue S1: Abstracts of the 24th European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2016 , pp. S448
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2016
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