A preliminary study of the factors that influence college student perceptions of the nonmedical use of prescription drugs

Abstract: 

There are continuing efforts to include student perception research in the field of criminal justice and criminology; few studies have addressed the nonmedical use of prescription drugs. Using data from 389 students enrolled at a Southeastern university, this study compares the perceptions of the nonmedical use of prescription drugs between criminal justice and noncriminal justice majors. The findings from this study indicate that no specific measure or factor consistently influences college student perceptions. However, when examining the role of self-control, we found that for two drugs (opiates and stimulants), low self-control had an important influence on the perceptions of nonmajors.