Prescription Tranquilizer/Sedative Misuse Motives Across the US Population. Issue 3 (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schepis, Ty S.; Wastila, Linda; McCabe, Sean Esteban
• Is Part Of: Journal of addiction medicine. Volume 15:Issue 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: anti-anxiety agents -- benzodiazepines -- hypnotics and sedatives -- motives -- prescription misuse; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86005
• DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000736
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-0620

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Roughly 6.5 million US residents engaged in prescription tranquilizer/sedative (eg, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs) misuse in 2018, but tranquilizer/sedative misuse motives are understudied, with a need for nationally representative data and examinations of motives by age group. Our aims were to establish tranquilizer/sedative misuse motives and correlates of motives by age cohort, and whether motive-age cohort interactions existed by correlate. Methods: Data were from the 2015 to 2018 US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, with 223, 520 total respondents (51.5% female); 6580 noted past-year prescription tranquilizer/sedative misuse motives (2.4% overall, 50.3% female). Correlates included substance use (eg, opioid misuse), mental (eg, suicidal ideation) and physical health variables (e.g., inpatient hospitalization). Design-based, weighted cross-tabulations and logistic regression analyses were used, including analyses of age cohort-motive interactions for each correlate. Results: Prescription tranquilizer/sedative misuse motives varied by age group, with the highest rates of self-treatment only motives (ie, sleep and/or relax) in those 65 and older (82.7%), and the highest rates of any recreational motives in adolescents (12–17 years; 67.5%). Any tranquilizer/sedative misuse was associated with elevated odds of substance use, mental health, and physical health correlates, but recreational misuse was associated with the highest odds. Age-based interactions suggested stronger relationships between tranquilizer/sedative misuse and mental health in adults 50 and older. Conclusions: Any tranquilizer/sedative misuse signals a need for substance use and mental health screening, with intervention needs most acute in those with any recreational motives. Older adult tranquilizer/sedative misuse may be more driven by undertreated insomnia and anxiety/psychopathology than in younger groups.