Exploring prescription opioid misuse among college students: a secondary analysis of ACHA National College Health Assessment data (2019-2022)
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2025 Nov 18:1-16. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2025.2567364. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Background: Prescription opioid misuse (POM) remains a significant public health concern among college students, yet few studies have examined POM prevalence, misuse behaviors among those with prescriptions, and how students access opioids in college settings.Objectives: Assessing the prevalence of POM, patterns of opioid sourcing (i.e. prescribed vs. illicit), and the trends of misuse of one’s own prescription (i.e. higher dosage and/or frequency) among college students.Methods: Data from the 2019-2022 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III survey, including responses from 331,156 students (64.4% cisgender female), were analyzed. Descriptive analyses assessed POM prevalence and misuse patterns, while multivariable logistic regression identified factors linked to illicit opioid sourcing and prescribed opioid misuse (higher dosage and/or increased frequency).Results: Lifetime POM was reported among 3.9% (n = 12,983) of students and past three-month POM was reported among 0.7% of all students (n = 2,327). Of participants with recent misuse, 55.5% used opioids that were not prescribed to them, and 44.5% used their own prescriptions. Among those with prescriptions, 26.0% exceeded the recommended dosage, and 22.7% shortened the dosing interval. Illicit sourcing was more common among gender-diverse students (aOR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.62-4.71, p < .0001) and those with severe psychological distress (aOR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.11-1.82, p = .0053). Misuse of higher dosages (aOR: 2.92, 95% CI: 2.07-4.32, p < .0001) and increased use frequency (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.23-2.63, p = .0026) was linked to suicidal risk.Conclusion: Prescription monitoring, substance use education, and harm reduction strategies to mitigate misuse risks are needed.
BJPsych Open. 2026 Mar 10;12(2):e82. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2026.10987.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: The effectiveness of Community Treatment Orders (CTO) and the variability with which they are used remains the subject...
BJPsych Open. 2026 Mar 10;12(2):e84. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2026.10983.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Accurate trauma recollections are essential in legal and research contexts; however, studies frequently reveal significant inconsistencies in trauma...
Georgian Med News. 2026 Jan;(370):228-233.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: One of the factors of successful study in a higher educational institution is the psycho-emotional state of a student, including...
Health Soc Care Deliv Res. 2026 Mar;14(6):1-35. doi: 10.3310/GJKR4724.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: This research addresses the mental health of family carers of adults with learning disabilities. We investigated...
Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-42024-x. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTGrowing emphasis on sustainable urban development has intensified the use of underground urban space for...
