1. Methylphenidate use and poly-substance use among undergraduate students attending a South African university
Dr F Steyn
Dept: Social Work and Criminology

2. Introduction MPH used in treatment of ADHD
Peer pressure and experimentation
Non-medical use of MPH = beliefs
Self-reported MPH use: 5% - 34%, yet only 3% - 10% of users diagnosed with ADHD
MPH mainly used in times of academic stress

3. Objectives: Extent and dynamics associated with MPH use by students
Poly-substance use
A profile of MPH users

4. Methods Quantitative approach, group-administered survey design
818 respondents (non-random procedures)
Informed consent and info letter
Questionnaire by White et al. (2006) adapted and piloted
Non-parametric tests
Anonymity, confidentiality, access and referral; ethical approval

5. Results: Characteristics of sample: Mean age 20.38 years (SD = 2.19)
Gender:
Female 77.3%, male 22.7%
Population group:
Black: 29.8%
Mixed race: 5.9%
Indian/Asian: 3.4%
White: 60.9%

6. Economic background:
Low: 8.8%
Middle: 75.6%
High: 15.6%
Type of school attended:
Public: 69.7%
Private: 30.3%

7. MPH use and dynamics: One in six (17.2%) has used MPH
2.9% diagnosed with ADHD
46.8% knew a student who uses MPH
31.7% of users did not have a prescription
68.3% commenced MPH use at varsity
69.1% used MPH only during test/exams
17.0% used MPH daily
Users more likely to be White (r=-0.07), male (r=-0.25) and from high income background (r=-0.08)

8. Ease of obtaining MPH:
Very easy: 41.2%
Somewhat easy: 23.7%
Neither easy nor difficult: 21.9%
Somewhat difficult: 7.9%
Very difficult: 5.3%
58.5% of users were “open” about use, 35.8% only those close to them, 5.6% a secret
MPH taken orally: 99.1%

9. Main reasons for MPH use:
Enhance concentration: 41.7%
Improve study habits: 26.4%
Achieve higher marks: 19.1%
Reduce hyperactivity: 10.2%
Socialising: 2.1%
Main side effects:
Insomnia: 17.3%
Moodiness: 14.7%
Loss of appetite: 12.0%
Dry mouth: 8.0%
Anxiety: 6.7%

10. – MPH and other substances (Y/N, %):
Used
Not used r
Alcohol
88.8
79.1
-0.09
Tobacco
52.3
22.8
-0.24
Cannabis
44.5
19.7
-0.21
Hard drugs
5.7
0.8
-0.14
Prescription medication
85.1
70.0
-0.12

11. – MPH and frequency of other substances (“often” %):
Used
Not used r
Alcohol
31.9
15.8
-0.16
Tobacco
25.8
8.5
-0.25
Cannabis
12.5
2.0
-0.23
Hard drugs
0.8
0.0
-0.14
Prescription medication
26.1
-0.15

12. Conclusions: Similar self-reported MPH use Use for study purposes
Poly-substance use
Tentative profile
Obtain illegally (stockpile)
Open, fairly easy to obtain
Awareness (perpetuated)

13. Limitations and further research:
Non-probability sampling
Self-report
Time constraints
Stratified selection
Other role players

14. Thank you