Reply: Characteristics of methylphenidate in a university student sample [4]

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TypeofStudy:Letters to the editor.

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AuthorsConclusions:Given that illicit methylphenidate may be in high demand for multiple reasons in a college setting and given the potential social stigma involved with taking psychiatric medications, individuals with legitimate prescriptions for methylphenidate may experience considerable pressure to divert their medication as a means of belonging. Moreover, because many college students may live away from home, their prescription adherence is unlikely to closely monitored. While we agree with Dr Oyemade and Dr Patel that increased education is likely key to curbing the problem of prescription diversion, such efforts might prove most effective if directed toward physicians, pharmacists, and patients alike.

FreeText:Reply to comment on Ritalin misuse among college students (Can. J. Psychiatry 2005;50:457-61). The reply states that the prevalence of Ritalin misuse among college students had variable rates across institutions (2% to 16%) in which these findings were difficult to interpret due to relatively modest levels of participants (ranging from 20% to 64%). Nevertheless, a recent study examining past-year illicit prescription stimulant use across 119 American colleges from geographically diverse regions documented stimulant medication misuse in over 83% of the institutions examined. This result suggested that the inappropriate use of Ritalin was a widespread problem. The authors stated that 30% of those who reported inappropriately using Ritalin reported doing so exclusively for study. Although the authors were not able to systematically record all possible motives for Ritalin use among recreational users, several of the participants spontaneously reported the use of Ritalin for both recreational and study purposes. There were also numerous reports of high rates binge drinking and drug experimentation among college students, this too might contribute to their propensity to misuse Ritalin. Anecdotal evidence suggested that many college students deliberately mix Ritalin and alcohol to prolong their drinking sessions or to achieve subjective effects, which was reported to be relatively common practice among recreational users.