Twitter Offers Insight into College Students’ Medication Misuse

College students are taking to Twitter to talk about prescription drugs, often revealing how they misuse medications, according to two recent studies. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania monitored 2,100 Tweets over a one-week period and found that 60% to 70% of the messages spoke of drug abuse and misuse. Another study from Brigham Young University analyzed 213,633 Tweets from November 2011 to May 2012, that mentioned the word “Adderall.” Mentions of the drug skyrocketed during traditional college exam periods, highlighting the fact that many students use it in hopes of increasing their concentration and productivity. The term “Adderall” was often used in conjunction with descriptions of sleep deprivation, alcohol use, and loss of appetite, cites a USA Today report about the Brigham Young study.

The AWAR_XE^® Consumer Protection Program contains additional information about the dangers of medication abuse and misuse on its Web site along with tips for safely using medications.