Background

Front. Psychol.

Frontiers in Psychology

Front. Psychol.

1664-1078

Frontiers Media S.A.

10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1661844

Psychology

Systematic Review

Systematic review of the use of prescription and non-prescription psychotropic drugs and their relation with mental health in university population

Espitia-Cepeda

Catalina

¹ ^† González-Amado

Bárbara

² ^† Simó-Algado

Salvador

¹ ^† Villanueva-Blasco

Víctor José

² ^* ^†

¹Institute for Research and Innovation in Life and Health Sciences in Central Catalonia, Universitat de Vic—Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC), Barcelona, Spain ²Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain

Edited by: Carlos Roncero, University of Salamanca, Spain

Reviewed by: Sarah Fernandes Teixeira, Centro Universitário do Espírito Santo, Brazil

Alessandra Oliveira Silva, Universidade de São Paulo—Campus de Ribeirao Preto, Brazil

*Correspondence: Víctor José Villanueva-Blasco, vjvillanueva@universidadviu.com

^†ORCID: Catalina Espitia-Cepeda, orcid.org/0009-0001-3350-231X

Bárbara González-Amado, orcid.org/0000-0001-9262-1469

Salvador Simó-Algado, orcid.org/0000-0002-0072-6296

Víctor José Villanueva-Blasco, orcid.org/0000-0001-6081-1583

15 10 2025

2025

1661844

08 07 2025 23 09 2025

2025

Espitia-Cepeda, González-Amado, Simó-Algado and Villanueva-Blasco

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Background

This systematic review aims to analyze the relationship between prescribed and non-prescribed use of psychotropic drugs and the presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, and suicide in the university population without a clinical disorder diagnosis, considering different types of psychotropic drugs (sedatives, tranquilizers, opioids, sleep aids).

Methods

Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was carried out in PubMed/MEDLINE, the Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL and PsyInfo. Registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023446068). Thirty-four quasi-experimental studies meeting ≥60% MMAT quality were included (assessed using the MMAT) were included. Data extraction considered demographic variables, mental health outcomes, types of psychotropic drugs, and prescription status.

Results

The findings reveal a significant association between both prescribed and non-prescribed psychotropic drug use and symptoms of psychological distress. Non-prescribed use was more strongly linked to anxiety, stress, and depression, whereas prescribed use was more closely related to suicidal ideation and suicide. Antidepressants, anxiolytics, and opioids were most frequently involved. Women and, in several studies, LGBTQ+ students displayed higher prevalence of psychotropic use in relation to distress.

Conclusion

The results emphasize the need for a preventive, contextual, and integral approach to address psychotropic drug use in university settings. Healthy Campus initiatives should reinforce awareness campaigns, promote psychosocial well-being, ensure early detection of psychological distress, and reflect critically on academic structures that may exacerbate emotional difficulties. Further research is needed from an intersectional and multilevel perspective to inform targeted interventions and institutional policy.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023446068, identifier (CRD42023446068).

systematic review non-medical prescription psychotropic drugs stress anxiety depression suicidal ideation PRISMA

section-at-acceptance

Addictive Behaviors

Introduction

The consumption of psychotropic drugs with and without a medical prescription is considered a growing public health problem [Bouvier et al., 2019; Hulme et al., 2018; National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018; Rougemont-Bücking et al., 2018; Schepis et al., 2018; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2021].

Psychotropic drugs have inhibitory effects on the central nervous system (CNS), leading people to use them with or without a prescription to alleviate various types of physical and psychological discomfort (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). The consumption of psychotropic drugs has been associated with the presence of chronic pain (Garland et al., 2020; Groenewald et al., 2019; Rogers et al., 2021), psychological distress (Ponnet et al., 2015), stress (Jensen et al., 2016), post-traumatic stress disorder (Aarstad-Martin and Boyraz, 2017), anxiety (Bouvier et al., 2019; Montiel et al., 2020; Wheeler et al., 2019), depression (Bouvier et al., 2019; Bryan et al., 2021; Kedia et al., 2020; Montiel et al., 2020; Pontes et al., 2021; Villanueva-Blasco et al., 2022b; Wheeler et al., 2019), suicidal ideation and suicide (Montiel et al., 2020; Pontes et al., 2021; Villanueva-Blasco et al., 2022b), or sleep disorders (Alasmari et al., 2022).

In recent decades, various systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been conducted on the consumption of psychotropic drugs among the general population, adolescents, young adults, and university students, with different objectives. Some have focused on specific types of psychotropic drugs, such as stimulants (i.e., Bavarian et al., 2015; Benson et al., 2015), opioids (i.e., Bonar et al., 2020; Bouvier et al., 2019; Weyandt et al., 2022), or benzodiazepines (i.e., Votaw et al., 2019). Others have analyzed aspects such as the prevalence of psychotropic drug consumption (i.e., Jia et al., 2018), changes in consumption over a lifetime (i.e., Schepis et al., 2020), the main reasons for consumption (i.e., Bennett and Holloway, 2017; Drazdowski, 2016), risk and protective factors related to consumption (i.e., Lyons et al., 2019; Nargiso et al., 2015), and the origin and diversion of psychotropic drugs for non-medical use (i.e., Hulme et al., 2018). However, most of the studies included in these systematic reviews did not differentiate between prescribed (misuse pattern) and non-prescribed psychotropic drugs.

Nowadays, non-prescribed psychotropic drugs are the second most illicitly consumed psychoactive substance after marijuana (Rougemont-Bücking et al., 2018), particularly those classified as opioids, stimulants, and sedatives (Hulme et al., 2018). The use of non-prescribed psychotropic drugs can lead to various health consequences such as overdose (World Health Organization, 2023), addiction, and increased demand for addiction treatment (Yamamoto et al., 2021), polydrug use (Aarstad-Martin and Boyraz, 2017; Bakhshaie et al., 2019; Gallucci and Martin, 2015; Molloy et al., 2019; Papazisis et al., 2018), and death [Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 2017].

The consumption of psychotropic drugs, both prescribed and non-prescribed, can emerge as a coping strategy in response to certain psychosocial stressors (Villanueva-Blasco et al., 2022a). This relationship between psychotropic drug use and stress factors can be explained through the Transactional Model of Stress (Lazarus and Folkman, 1986). This model proposes three coping styles: (a) task-focused, seeking logical ways to solve the problem; (b) emotion-focused, aimed at assigning a new meaning to the stressor to mitigate emotional distress; and (c) avoidance-oriented, where the individual seeks distractions to avoid facing the problem. This last coping style is significantly associated with maladaptive behaviors such as drug use and the risk of addiction (Glodosky and Cuttler, 2020; Lee-Winn et al., 2018).

Several studies agree in identifying the university population as a particularly vulnerable group to experiencing stress (Glodosky and Cuttler, 2020; Zenebe and Necho, 2019). This stress can be linked to various aspects of university life and may lead to the use of psychotropic drugs as a coping strategy. The use of non-prescribed psychotropic drugs has been associated with the motivation to improve academic performance or as a cognitive enhancement method (Cook et al., 2021; Gallucci et al., 2014; Gallucci and Martin, 2015; Molloy et al., 2019; Ponnet et al., 2015; Yomogida et al., 2018; Zahavi et al., 2023), social pressure (Ponnet et al., 2015), or job uncertainty (Colell et al., 2016). Another reason for the increased use of psychotropic drugs among university students is easy accessibility (Hulme et al., 2018). Anxiety and difficulty sleeping are some of the reasons for consuming anxiolytics (Ghandour et al., 2012). While stimulants are mainly used to increase concentration, alertness, and to study. Opioids are used to relieve physical pain, sleep, and reduce anxiety (Ghandour et al., 2012).

Beyond the university population diagnosed with a clinical disorder who receive pharmacological treatment, the consumption of psychotropic drugs in the university population appears as a coping strategy for psychosocial and academic stressors. Far from pathologizing university life, the aim of this systematic review was to answer the following research questions: What is the relationship between the use of psychotropic drugs, both prescribed and non-prescribed, and the presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior among university students? Which types of psychotropic drugs are most frequently associated with indicators of psychological distress in this population? Based on these research questions, the primary objective was to analyze the relationship between the use of psychotropic drugs (prescribed and non-prescribed) and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior among university students. As a secondary objective, the study aimed to identify the types of psychotropic drugs most frequently associated with various indicators of psychological distress in this population. This relationship is examined by considering different categories of psychotropic substances (sedatives, tranquilizers, opioids, and sleep-inducing medications), regardless of whether they were used with or without medical prescription.

Method Data sources and search strategy

A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines (Page et al., 2021). The search was performed in the Web of Science (WoS), APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases from January of 2023 to March 2025. The research protocol was registered in PROSPERO (registration code: CRD42023446068).

Various keywords were identified based on a review of previous literature and the authors’ knowledge in the field of study. Additionally, the DeCS Thesaurus was used to identify and select specific terms for the initially selected keywords. Subsequently, through an iterative process, new keywords were selected based on the results reported in the initial searches. Finally, the keywords were combined using the following search strategy: (((((((((((“College student*”) OR (“University student*”)) OR (“young adult*”)) OR (College*)) OR (“Student*”)) OR (“Emerging adulthood*”)) OR (Undergraduate*)) AND ((((“risk factor*”) OR (“relation*”)) OR (“associa*”))) AND ((((((“Anxiety*”) OR (“Stress*”)) OR (“Suicide*”)) OR (“Suicidal ideation*”)) OR (“depression*”)) OR (“Psychological distress*”))) AND (((((((((((((((((“Psychotropic drug*”) OR (“Psychotropic medication misuse”)) OR (“non-medical use of prescription drugs”)) OR (“non-medical prescription drug use”)) OR (“Prescription drug misuse”)) OR (“Hypnotic*”)) OR (“Sedativ*”)) OR (“Analgesic*”)) OR (“Opioid*”)) OR (“Substance misuse”)) OR (“Stimulant*”)) OR (“non-medical prescription opioid*”)) OR (“non-medical prescription drug*”)) OR (“opioid analgesics*”)) OR (“nonmedical use of prescription drugs”)) OR (“nonmedical prescription drug”)))).

Eligibility criteria

The studies included in this review met the following inclusion criteria: (a) Studies with an university population sample (undergraduate and postgraduate) or that, even incorporating other types of populations, included differentiated results for the university population; (b) Studies that included quantitative data on variables of consumption with and without medical prescription of: sedatives, tranquillizers, opioids, sleeping pills; (c) Studies that analyzed the relationship between consumption and mental health variables, including depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation and suicide; (d) Studies published in English and Spanish; (e) No date limit; and, (f) Minimum methodological quality of 60% (MMAT—Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool).

In addition, the following exclusion criteria were considered: (a) Studies conducted in animals; (b) University population diagnosed with mental disorders or previous addiction; (c) Studies addressing behavioral addictions; and (e) Literature reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, books, book chapters, conference communications and doctoral theses.

Selection process

Three authors (first author, second author, and fourth author) independently identified the sought studies in three steps following the literature (Gunnell et al., 2020). First, the titles of articles obtained from the initial searches were examined and selected based on the eligibility criteria mentioned earlier. Next, a review of titles and abstracts was conducted to select articles that aligned with the review objectives. Third, full-text articles were thoroughly analyzed and selected for eligibility. Lastly, the bibliographic references of all selected articles were manually reviewed to identify relevant articles missed in the initial search strategy (ancestry approach).

The search strategy yielded a total of 18,643 records and 8 articles listed in the references of others articles, with 34 articles remaining after the entire selection process that were included in the systematic review. The selection process is summarized in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Flowchart. The flowchart was created using the PRISMA tool (Page et al., 2021).

Flowchart illustrating the process of reviewing records for a study. Identification: 18,643 total records identified from sources like PubMed and SCOPUS. Screening: 6,424 duplicates removed, 11,879 excluded by title and abstract, 340 reviewed for eligibility. Exclusion reasons include irrelevance to the study focus (e.g., wrong population or substance) and language issues. 34 records included in the final review.

Data extraction

Two authors (first author, and fourth author) independently and systematically extracted data from the final list of included studies. The following categories of manuscripts were identified and considered: (a) Authorship, year and country, (b) Study type, (c) Characteristics of the target population: sex and age, (d) Sample size, (e) Study objectives, (f) Mental health variables, (g) Mental health assessment (h) Psychotropic drug variables, (i) Psychotropic drug assessment, and (j) Main study outcomes. Discrepancies between the authors were resolved through consensus decision-making.

Assessment of methodological quality

The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) (Hong et al., 2018). The MMAT is a critical appraisal tool designed for systematic reviews that include quasi-experimental empirical studies (Table 1). For this study, only studies providing quantitative data were included. The assessment of methodological quality for each study is presented in Table 1. A decision was made to select studies with a minimum of 60% methodological quality.

Table 1

Assessment of methodological quality for quasi-experimental studies.

Reference	P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	% of compliance
Freibott et al. (2024)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Gaume et al. (2024)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Kouros and Papp (2024)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Bahlaq et al. (2023)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Hua et al. (2023)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Papp et al. (2023)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	80%
Čanković et al. (2023)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Antshel et al. (2021)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	60%
Schepis et al. (2021)	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	80%
Weyandt et al. (2021)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Davis et al. (2020)	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	60%
King et al. (2020)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	80%
Sousa et al. (2020)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Tam et al. (2020)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	80%
Sattler (2019)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Pate and Bolin (2019)	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	40%
Balayssac et al. (2018)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Grant et al. (2018)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	60%
Walters et al. (2018)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Benson and Flory (2017)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	80%
Boulton and O'Connell (2017)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Meshesha et al. (2017)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Peralta et al. (2016)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Jeffers et al. (2015)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Benotsch et al. (2014)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Verdi et al. (2014)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Betancourt et al. (2013)	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	60%
Cabriales et al. (2013)	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	60%
Dussault and Weyandt (2013)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	80%
Zullig and Divin (2012)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
McCauley et al. (2011)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	80%
Teter et al. (2010)	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	60%
Vidourek et al. (2010)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Weyandt et al. (2009)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	100%
Ford and Schroeder (2008)	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	80%

P1: Are participants representative of the target population?; P2: Are the measurements appropriate regarding both outcome and intervention (or exposure)?; P3: Are there complete outcome data?; P4: Are confounding factors considered in the design and analysis?; P5: During the study period, was the intervention administered (or exposure occurred) as planned?

Results Characteristics and results of selected studies

Table 2 presents information from the 34 articles identified with a methodological quality of 60% or higher. In terms of study design, all were quasi-experimental. Most of the studies were conducted in the USA (n = 25), with others in France (n = 1), Brazil (n = 1), Canada (n = 1), Germany (n = 1), Puerto Rico (n = 1), Saudi Arabia (n = 1), Switzerland (n = 1), China (n = 1) and Serbia (n = 1). The age of participants ranged from 17 to 58 years, considering samples not only from undergraduate students but also from master’s and doctoral programs. The sample sizes across all studies were generally large, ranging from 41 to 22,783 participants.

Table 2

Coding table of primary studies: articles included in the systematic review.

Autorship, year and country	Study type	Characteristics of the target population: sex and age	Sample size	Study objectives	Mental Health Variables	Mental Health Assessment	Psychotropic drug variables	Psychotropic drug assessment	Main study outcomes
Freibott et al. (2024).USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25M_age = 20.52 (SD = 1.94)Females: 67%	N = 782 (opioid misuse)	(1) Quantify the prevalence of opioid misuse in a large, national sample of college students, (2) estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among students reporting opioid misuse, (3) document the mental health helpseeking behaviors of students reporting opioid misuse and (4) describe the academic performance of students reporting opioid misuse.	DepressionAnxietyMental health diagnosis	PHQ-9 (α = 0.89)GAD-7 (α = 0.91)	Opioid misuse	Ad hoc question: “Over the past 30 days, have you used any of the following drugs (select all that apply).”	Of the 782 students reporting opioid misuse, 503 (64.3%) screened positive for anxiety or depression (p < 0.001) and 453 (57.9%) reported a mental health diagnosis (p < 0.001). While 82.8% of students reporting opioid misuse indicated a need for mental or emotional help in the last 12 months, only 48.0% reported counseling or therapy in the same time frame.
Gaume et al. (2024)Switzerland	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: —M_age = −(SD = −)Females: -%	N = 141 (Non-medial use of prescription drugs)	Evaluated the prevalence of substance use among medical students, and then investigated whether mental health and burnout variables had an influence on substance use.	Depressive symptomsSuicidal ideationAnxietyStress	CES-D (French version)Beck Depression InventoryState–Trait Anxiety Inventory	Substance useNeuroenhancement drugs, as well as non-medical use of prescription drugs	French version of the WHO’s Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening TestCohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors questionnaire	Higher scores on the factor related to sedatives, nonmedical prescription drugs, and neuroenhancement drugs use (S3) was significantly related with higher scores on the factor related to depression and anxiety (M1). The factor comprising stress related to studies and work/life balance (M3) was not associated with any substance factor
Kouros and Papp (2024)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–21M_age = 19.5 (SD = 0.71)Females: 69%	N = 300	Tested associations between trajectories of PDM problems and college students’ mental health and subjective happiness over time.	Internalizing symptoms: depressive symptomsExternalizing symptoms	Brief Patient Health Questionnaire: depressive symptoms (α = 0.86–0.92)Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms, social anxiety subscale: social anxiety (α = 0.85–0.89)Externalizing Spectrum Inventory: General Disinhibition subscale assessed impulsive behavior or lack of constraint (α = 0.85–0.88)	Problems with prescription misuseOther Substance Use Problems	DAST-10 (Modified version) (α = 0.71–0.79)Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (α = 0.80–0.87)	Problems with PDM were concurrently associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, disinhibition, callousness/aggression, and lower levels of subjective happiness at T1. Further, we found support for parallel trajectories between PDM problems and both depressive symptoms and general disinhibition. Participants whose PDM problems were on an increasing (worsening) trajectory at baseline showed an increase in depressive symptoms and general disinhibition over the next two years.
Bahlaq et al. (2023)Saudi Arabia	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: -M_age = −(SD = -)Females: 51.4%	N = 732	Determine the prevalence, association, and predictors of burnout, stress, and stimulant abuse among medical and dental students in the Western region of Saudi Arabia	Stress	Cohen’s 10-item Self-Perceived Stress Scale (α = 0.82)	Stimulant abuse	Ad hoc question	There was a significant association between burnout and stimulant abuse, with all the eight students who used stimulants experiencing burnout. Most students with highly positive perception of stimulant abuse reported moderate stress (95.5%).There was a statistically significant trend in stress levels and burnout.
Hua et al. (2023)China	Quantitative non-randomized	M_age = 19.83 (SD = 1.3)Females: 69%	N = 1,703	Investigate (1) the possible associations of NMUPD with depressive and anxiety symptoms; (2) whether these associations vary by sex.	Depressive symptomsAnxiety symptoms	CES-D (α = 0.79)GAD-7 (α = 0.90)	Non-medical use of prescription drugs	Ad hoc question: how many times have you ever used the following medications, when you were not sick or without a doctor’s prescription?	Except for the frequent users of opioids, non- medical use of opioids (experimenters: β = 1.10 [95% CI, 0.62 to 1.57]) and sedatives (experimenters: β = 1.57 [95% CI, 0.84 to 2.31]; frequent users: β = 2.98 [95% CI, 0.70 to 5.26]) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, even after controlling for multiple covariates and the comorbid symptom. The adjusted associations with anxiety symptoms were also significant for non-medical use of opioids
Papp et al. (2023)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–21M_age = 19.5 (SD = 0.71)Females: 69%	N = 297 (prescription drug misuse)	Examined associations between stress intensity and prescription drug misuse in daily life among college students with elevated risk for engaging in the behavior.	Stress	Stress intensity was evaluated by the number of stressors experienced in the moment	Prescription drug misuse: Sedatives or sleeping pills, tranquilizers or anxiety medications, stimulants, and pain relievers.	Ad hoc question:‘Are you about to take amedication listed here in any way a doctor did not direct you to use it?’ for 4 classes of medication (sedatives or sleeping pills, tranquilisers or anxiety medications, stimulants, and pain relievers) Have you recently taken a medication listed here not as prescribed?’ (past 3 months)	Participants were more likely to engage in prescription misuse in daily life in moments of their higher-than-usual stress, accounting for number of stressors they experienced in the moment (AOR = 1.084, p < 0.001, d = 0.04)
Čanković et al. (2023)Serbia	Quantitative non-randomized	Age:M_age = 20.95 (SD=)Females: 67.5%	N = 308	Evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and examine the association between various risk factors and depressive symptoms	DepressionSuicidal ideation	PHQ-9	Alcohol use and frequency of binge drinkingLifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol use, marijuana use, ecstasy use, sedative or sleeping pills use without a prescription	Ad hoc	Univariate analysis showed a statistically significant association between depressive episodes and self-assessed material status, social health, self-esteem, and use of sleeping pills or sedatives without prescription among first-year students. Among sixth-year students, the association of depressive episodes was significant with social health, self-esteem, and the use of sleeping pills or sedatives without prescription.Those who had used sleeping pills or sedatives without a prescription were more than four times more likely to have a PHQ-9 score ≥ 10 than those who had not (OR = 4.97, 95% CI: 1.83–13.52).
Antshel et al. (2021)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25M_age = 18.9(SD = 1.5)Females: 51.6%	N = 309n = 38 history of stimulant misusen = 271	Examined the impact of achievement goal orientation on stimulant misuse in college students, with stress as covariate	Stress	PSS (α = 0.83)	Stimulant medication misuse	History of stimulant misuse within the past 12 months (yes vs. no)	Inconsistent with previous research, stress, F (1, 302) = 1.10, p = 0.297, eta² = 0.01, were comparable between stimulant misusers and non-stimulant misusers.N(misusers, PSS) = 20.27, SD = 5.811, n = 38N(non-misusers, PSS) = 19.42 SD = 6.206, n = 271d = 0.14
Schepis et al. (2021)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25M_age = 20.5(SD = 1.57)Females: 66%	N = 41 (≥ 6 past year prescription stimulant misuse episodes)	Evaluate the relationship between stress and PSM over a 21-day EMA period.	Academic stress	PSS-4	Prescription stimulant misuse	Current Prescription Stimulant Misuse (6 past-year PSM episodes), measured by ecological momentary Assessment (EMA):“Have you misused a stimulant since the last survey? That is, have you used your own stimulant medication in a way your doctor did not intend or have you used another person’s stimulant medication?”	At the daily level, PSS-4 total score and items were unrelated to PSM, Beta = 0.03, p = 0.539.At the current momentary level, PSS-4 total was significantly related to PSM, with decreases in global stress around the PSM episode (Beta = 0.09, p = 0.042).
Weyandt et al. (2021)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–24M_age = 20(SD = 1.28)Females: 71.2%	N = 847NMPO_lifetime = 92 (10.9%)NMPO_past-month: = 7 (0.8%)	Prevalence lifetime and past 30-days of NMPO.To study the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and NMPO	Depression and anxiety symptoms.	DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure—Adult.(α = 0.817 and α = 0.843, for depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively).	NMPOQFrequency of Use (lifetime and 30 past days)NMBMNMPS	Ad hoc questionnaire:- Lifetime: “have you ever used prescriptionopioids non-medically in your lifetime?”When answering“yes,” past-month opioid use was measured by the number of days in the past 30 days theopioids were used.	Lifetime nonmedical use of Benzodiazepine: 79 (9.3%)Lifetime Nonmedical Use ofPrescription Stimulants: 160 (18.9%)Relationship between NMPO and depression symptoms: r = 0.167Relationship between NMPO and anxiety symptoms: r = 0.081 (ns)Relationship between NMPS and depression symptoms: r = 0.145Relationship between NMPS and anxiety symptoms: r = 0.117Relationship between NMBM and depression symptoms: r = 0.126Relationship between NMBM and anxiety symptoms: r = 0.126
Davis et al. (2020)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	M_age = 21.7(SD = 4.99)Females: 69.5%	N = 889N_{Opioide Misuse} = 192 (21.6%)	Examining the relationship between prescription opioid misuse and suicidality (suicidal ideation, suicide planning and suicide attempts)	Three facets of Suicidality: suicidal ideation, suicide planning and suicide attempts. Psychological disorder: depression or other mental health disorder	Suicidality: using 3 items ad hoc.Psychological disorder: prior physician diagnosis.	Prescription opioid misuse (POM), other illicit and prescriptiondrug use	Ad hoc question: “How frequentlyover the past 12-months have you used prescription opioidmedications in a way not specifically directed by a doctor?” Responseoptions were 1 = never, 2 = 1–2 occasions, 3 = 3–5 occasions, 4 = 6–9occasions, 5 = 10–19 occasions, 6 = 20–39 occasions, and 7 = 40 ormore occasions.The same format question for other illicit and prescription drug use	Unadjusted logistic regression models estimated the bivariate relationship between each suicidality variable and POM: suicidal ideation (OR = 4.85, CI: 3.44–6.84, p < 0.001), planning (OR = 6.57, CI: 4.27–10.13, p < 0.01), and attempts (OR = 26.95, CI: 13.78–52.71, p < 0.001).
King et al. (2020)Canada	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–35Females: 70.5% (n = 2,229)	N = 3,160N_NMPS = 99 (3.1%) for staying awake	Prevalence and factors associated with non-medical use of NMPS to promote wakefulness	Anxiety and depressive symptoms.	HADS (α = 0.82 for depression and α = 0.83 for anxiety)	Non-medical prescription stimulant.	Question ad hoc: whether they used any kind ofstimulant to help them stay awake (yes vs. no).Participants who answered “yes” were then asked to select all of the prescriptionmedication they currently use or have used in thepast to help them stay awake (even if they were not prescribed)	Females were significantly less likely to misuse prescription stimulants compared to males (OR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.42–0.97; p = 0.037).Univariate analysis: Individuals classified as having depressive symptoms in the clinical range (OR = 2.89; 95% CI = 1.66–5.04; p < 0.001) were significantly more likely to misuse prescription stimulants to stay awake compared to individuals without symptoms of depression.Participants with clinical levels of anxiety were more than twice as likely to misuse prescription stimulants compared to participants with typical levels of anxiety (OR = 2.38; 95% CI = 1.43–3.95; p = 0.001).
Sousa et al. (2020)Brazil	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 17–57M_age = 26.7(SD = 8.0)Females: 75.2% (n = 137)	N = 182N_NMPM = 144 (79.2%) lifetimeN_NMPM = 38 (29.9%) last year	To assess the use of nonprescription psychoactive medications and their associations with health aspects among nursing students.	Depression	PHQ2	Use and frequency of psychoactive medication use without prescription last year.	Ad hoc questionnaire: question about use and frequency of psychoactive medication use without prescription last year	Non-prescription consumption group: (M = 1.95; SD = 2.03), non-consumption (M = 1.35, SD = 1.95).
Tam et al. (2020)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: > 18M_age = 19.78(SD = 2.83)Females: 68.7%	N = 1,052N_NMUPD = 252 (24%) in the past three months.	Examine the relationship of perceived stress, psychiatric symptoms (depression and social anxiety), and NMUPD (opioids, sedatives, anxiolytics, and stimulants) among college students	Perceived stress,Psychiatric symptoms (depression and social anxiety).	Perceived stress: 14-item scale to measure the degree to whichsituations in the participant’s life were appraised asstressful. (α = 0.76)SF-CESD (α = 0.86)SSA (α = 0.94)	Non-medical use of prescription drugs (opioids, sedatives, anxiolytics and stimulants).	Ad Hoc questionnaire: a first question bout whether they had ever used a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription, which ones and the number of times (their lifetime and post three months)	All four classes of NMUPD opioids correlated positively with perceived stress (r = 0.105) and depression (r = 0.110); sedatives with perceives stress (r = 0.090) and depression (r = 0.098); anxiolytics with perceives stress (r = 0.124), depression (r = 0.180) and social anxiety (r = 0.087); and stimulants with perceived stress (r = 0.076) and depression (r = 0.093).According to the CFA model, perceived stress was significantly correlated with NMUPD (r = 0.23; p < 0.001). Likewise, psychiatric symptoms were significantly and positively correlated with NMUPD (r = 0.31, p < 0.001).
Sattler (2019)Germany	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: > 18Females: 61.9%	N = 2,203N_non-NMPD = 2,164N_{NMPDs =} 39 (2%)	Study the association between perceived stress on selfreportedCognitive Enhacement drug use.	Perceived Stress	Perceived Stress Scale (PSS4)α = 0.85	Stimulants: Methylphenidate, modafinil, amphetamine-dextroamphetamine	Ad hoc question about non-medical use of prescription drugs to enhance cognitive efficiency (past 6 months)	Increasing reportedchronic stress is positively correlated with the likelihood of self-reportedCE-drug useOR = 1.747, 95% CI = 1.288, 2.370, p < 0.001
Balayssac et al. (2018)France	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: > 18M_age = 22(SD = 2.3)Females: 65.9%	N = 2,575N_NMPD = 252	Assess the prevalence of psychotropic drug use (medications and illegal drugs) by French pharmacy students, by carrying out a nationwide cross-sectional study. The relation of these medications and illegal drug use with several comorbidities and academic achievement was also assessed	Anxiety,depression and stress symptoms.	HADS: depression, anxiety and stress.	Psychotropic drug use(medications): Alprazolam, Bromazepam, ZolpidemCodeine, Tramadol,Escitalopram, Zopiclone,Paroxetine, Oxazepam,Diazepam, Fluoxetine.Indication of use, type of prescription for medication (medical or self-medication) and frequency of use.	Ad hoc questionnaire	Stress was significantly higher for self-medication psychotropic users (M = 62, SD = 19,2) contrasting to non-users (M = 54.3, SD = 23.3) (p < 0.05)Self-medications- anxiety: OR = 4.08, CI = 2.5, 6.70; p < 0.001Self-medications- depression: OR = 5.79, CI = 2.86, 11.76; p < 0.001Self-medications- stress: OR = 5.79, CI = 2.86, 11.76; p < 0.001
Grant et al. (2018)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: (University sample)Females: 59.7%	N = 3,421N_NMPS = 230 (currently misuse stimulants)n_NMPD = 199 (misused stimulants lifetime).n = 984 never misuse stimulants	Examine the occurrence of the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (amphetamines and methylphenidate) in a university sample and their associated physical and mental health correlates.	Depression, anxiety.	Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9): depressive symptoms.Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7): generalized anxiety disorder.	Prescription stimulants or amphetamines	Ad hoc question (“Please mark the frequency with which youhave used prescription stimulants or amphetamineswithin the past 12 months. DONOT include drugs prescribed for you.”)	Nonmedical use of stimulants was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms (χ²₍₆₎ = 21.62, p = 0.001); but not with depression symptoms (F(2, 1,350) = 4.252; p = 0.014)
Walters et al. (2018)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25M_age = 20.73 (SD = 1.61)Females: 70%	N = 891	Test associations between anxious and depressive symptoms and substance use (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, cocaine, other amphetamines, sedatives, hallucinogens, and designer drugs).	Anxiety and depressive symptoms	Personality Assessment Inventory-6	Substance use: alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, cocaine, other amphetamines, sedatives, hallucinogens, opiates, inhalants, designer drugs and steroids.	CORE Alcohol and Drug Survey – short	Depressive symptoms were associated with use of cannabis, tobacco, amphetamines, cocaine, sedatives, and hallucinogens. Anxiety symptoms were unrelated to substance use.
Benson and Flory (2017)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–26M_age = 20 (SD = 1.4)Females: 76%	N = 890n_MISUSERS = 205 (23%) with prescribed medication.n_MISUSERS = 164 (18%) without any prescription for stimulant medication	Analyze the relationship between symptoms of depression and misuse of stimulant medication	Depression	CESD-R.α = 0.91	Stimulant medication use	Ad hoc questionnaire about past 12-months stimulant drug misuse	Symptoms of depression were significantly related to stimulant medication misuse. The odds of misusing increased by 1.02 (95% CI = 1.01–1.04; p = 0.001) for every one-point increase in depression.
Boulton and O'Connell (2017)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 17–58Women: 93%	N = 4,033n_NMPD = 408 (past year)Nursing students	Examined whether stress and perceived faculty support were related to substance misuse.	Stress	Stress: SNSI.α = 0.89	Substance use: nonprescribed prescription drugs	Personal use survey: analyze nonprescribed prescription drugs in the past year	For every 10-point increase in stress scores, students were 1.17 times more likely to report nonprescribed drug use than those students with lower scores on the SNSI (OR = 1.17, p < 0.001).
Meshesha et al. (2017)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	M_age = 20.01(SD = 1.6)Females:62%	N = 71n_NMPO = 35 (past year);n = 36 (control participants)	Evaluate the behavioral economic hypotheses that NMPO use would be associated with lower levels of reinforcement from substance-free activities and future time orientation.	Anhedonia,Depression	DASS-21: depression and anxiety	Non-medical use of prescription drugs.	Clinical interview to assess nonmedical use of prescription drugs past-year.	The NMPO group reportedhigher depression, [t (69) = 3.99, p < 0.001], compared to the control group.
Peralta et al. (2016)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25M_age = 19.6Females: 60.4%	N = 796n_NMUPD = 236	H1: Males will have higher-odds of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs (NMUPD) compared to females	Depression	CES-D: depression	Non-medical use of prescription drugs: sedatives, tranquilizers, narcotics, steroids	Ad hoc question (example:“On how many occasions (if any) have you taken tranquilizers on your own—that is, without a doctor telling you to take them …”)	In Model 1, age, sex, race and depression all have a positive, significant influence on NMUPD (OR_CES-D = 1,08; p < 0.001).
Jeffers et al. (2015)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25M_age = 18.8(SD = 1.2)Females: 64.6%	N = 758n_{NMUPD =} 225 (29.7%) Lifetimen_{NMUPD =} 145 (19.1%) past 3 months	Examine the relations among health anxiety, NMUPD, and other psychological variables related to substance use	Anxiety, depression, and somatic distress.	BSI-18: anxiety, depression and somatic distress.α = 0.94	Non-medical Prescription Drugs: Analgesics, anxiolytics, stimulants, and sedatives.	Ad hoc question	Participants who reported NMUPD lifetime, had higher scores in anxiety (t = −2.59, p < 0.05), depression (t = −3.42, p < 0.01) and somatic distress (t = −2.04, p < 0.01). Likewise, Participants who reported NMUPD in the past 3 months, had higher scores in anxiety (t = −2.40, p < 0.01) and depression (t = −3.11, p < 0.01).At a multivariable logistic regression health anxiety was a risk factor for NMUPD (OR = 1.03, CI = 1.002, 1.06, p < 0.05), and predicted NMUPD over and above other variables.
Benotsch et al. (2014)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25 M_age = 18.9(SD = 1.4)Females: 63%	N = 767N_OTC = 100 (13%)	Examine associations between the misuse of OTC medications and psychological variables (anxiety, depression and somatic distress)	Anxiety, depression	Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18): depression, anxiety and somatic distressα = 0.94	Non-medical use of over-the-counter (OTC).Non-medical use of Prescription stimulants, analgesics, anxiolytics and sedatives, lifetime and in the previous 3 months	Ad hoc questionnaire	Participants who indicated they misused OTC medications scored higher in depression (t = 4.87, p < 0.001) and anxiety (t = 5.50, p < 0.001) than those who did not.
Verdi et al. (2014)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 22–29 (65.8%)Females: 72.1%	N = 807n_nonmedical = 141 (17.5%) – lifetimen_{nonmedical =} 48 (5,9%) – past year	Examine graduate students’ non-medical use of prescription stimulant medication, and the relationship between non-medical use of prescription stimulants with psychological factors (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress), and internal restlessness	Anxiety, depression, and stress	DASS-21.Depression (α = 0.89), Anxiety(α = 0.76), and Stress (α = 0.88; α = 0.87).	Non-medical use of prescription stimulant	SSQ (α = 0.85)	There was statistical significantrelationship between non-medical use of prescription stimulants and anxiety (F(1, 799) = 12.44, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.015), stress (F(1, 799) = 17.75, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.022), but not for depressive symptomatology (F(1, 799) = 3.221, p = 0.073, η2 =0.004).
Betancourt et al. (2013)Puerto Rico	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 21–53Females: 67.6%	N = 252N_NMPDU = 76 (27.6%)	Determine the associations between self-perceived academic load and stress, NMUPD (stimulants, depressants, and sleeping medication), and dietary pattern in college students in Puerto Rico.	Perception of academic load, Perception of stress.	Perception-of-stress scale adapted from the Systemic Cognitive Model of Academic Stress	Prescription medication as a coping strategy: NMUPD (stimulants, depressants, and sleeping medications)	Questions about the use of prescription drugs	Those with higher levels of stress had higher NMUPD (42.1%) than did those with low (26.3%) or moderate (31.6%) stress levels, after controlling for age and sex (p = 0.069).NMUPD was significantly associated with stress, after controlling for ageand sex (OR = 1.482; 95% C.I. = 1.036, 2.120; p = 0.03).No significant association was found between NMUPD and academic load, even after controlling for age andsex (OR = 1.354; 95% C.I. = 0.774, 2.369; p = 0.29).
Cabriales et al. (2013)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	M_age = 20.08(SD = 3.96)Females: 59%	N = 435N_NMPDU = 29.4% lifetime	Assess lifetime prescription drug misuse rates as well as potential protective and risk factors for misuse in a Hispanic college sample	Depression, Anxiety, Stress.	DASS: depression, anxiety and stress(depression α = 0.95, anxiety α =0.88, and stress α = 0.92).	Prescription drug use: opioid analgesics, sedatives/tranquilizers, and stimulants, lifetime.	Ad hoc questionnaire	Higher anxiety level significantly increased the odds of having ever misused prescription drugs, B = 0.08, OR = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.01, 1.16], p < 0.05.Higher depressive symptomatology was significantly associated with lower odds of ever misusing prescription drugs, B = − 0.07, OR = 0.93, 95%, CI [0.88, 0.99], p < 0.05
Dussault and Weyandt (2013)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: > 18Female = 723	N = 1,033n_NMPSU = 204 (19.8%)	Examine whether psychological variableswere related to self-reported nonmedical stimulant use.	Depression, Anxiety and stress	Dass-21:depression, anxiety and stress	Misuse of prescription stimulants	SSQ (α = 0.85)	Only anxiety scale was a significant predictor of Non-medical stimulant use, t(1022) = 2.472, p = 0.014; with those reporting higher rates of anxiety also reporting higher rates of nonmedical stimulant use.
Zullig and Divin (2012)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 18–25Females: 69.26%	N = 22,783n_NMPU = 2,962 (13%) any drug.n_NMPDopioid = 1,913 (8.4%)n_NMPDstimulant = 1,349 (5.9%)n_NMPDsedatives = 944 (4.1%)n_NMPDantidepressants = 685 (3.0%)	Explored the association between general and specific NMPDU, depressive symptoms, and suicidality.	Depressive symptoms and suicidality	Six ad hoc mental health questions	Non-medical Prescription Drug Use: antidepressants, painkillers, sedatives, and stimulants, past 12 months.	Ad hoc question (“Within the last 12 months, have you taken any ofthe following prescription drugs that were not prescribed to you?”)	Those who reported feeling hopeless, sad, depressed, or considered suicide were still between 1.22 and 1.31 more likely to report any NMPDU. Both unadjusted and adjusted comparisons for each of the NMPDU variables suggest that college students who reported NMPDU have significantly greater odds of reporting depressive symptoms and/or suicidality.When the adjusted models were repeated separately by gender, results were more pronounced for females, especially for females who reported painkiller use.
McCauley et al. (2011)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: ≥18Females: 100%	N = 2,000N_NMUPD = 155 (7.8%)	Examine mental health and other demographic characteristics as potential risk correlates of NMUPD in a national sample of college women	Health and mental health: Lifetime PTSD and MDE, Rape experiences	National Women’s Study (NWS) PTSD and Major Depressive Episode modules, structured interviews	Non-medical use of prescription drugs: tranquilizers, sedatives, stimulants, steroids, and pain medicines.	Ad hoc questionnaire	Lifetime MDE remained a significant predictor (OR = 2.14 vs. no MDE), while lifetime PTSD only maintained a trend toward significance (OR = 1.59; p = 0.06 vs. no PTSD).Lifetime MDE (OR = 2.67 vs. no MDE; 95% CI [1.74–4.11]) and PTSD(OR = 1.68 vs. no PTSD; 95% CI [1.09–2.58]) were associated with prescription drug misuse.
Teter et al. (2010)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	M_age = 19.9(SD = 2.0)Females: 53.6%	N = 3,639n_NMUPS = 212 (6%)	H1: NMUPS and nonoral routes of NMUPS administration would each be associated with higher rates of depressed mood. Analyze the relationships between other student variables (e.g., gender, race) and depressed mood	Depressed mood	Two-item PHQ-2: depressed mood	NMUPS: Stimulant medication (e.g., Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Concerta, methylphenidate).	Ad hoc question: “On how many occasions in (a) yourlifetime or (b) the past 12 months or (c) the past 30 days have you used the following types ofdrugs, not prescribed to you? Stimulant medication”	Adjusted odds of depressed mood were over two times greater among frequent monthly NMUPS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.3,95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–5.15) and non-oral routes of administration (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.36–3.70), after controlling for other variables.
Vidourek et al. (2010)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Females: 58%	N = 363N_NMPDU = 112 (32%)	Does involvementin risky behaviors including sexualbehaviors, substance abuse and suicidalideation differ based on use of NMPDs?	Suicidal ideation	Ad hoc questionnaire	Non-Medical Prescription Drug Use: sleeping medication, sedative or anxiety medication, stimulant and pain medication	Ad hoc questionnaire	Students who had ever engaged in NMPD use had greater odds of lifetime suicidal ideation (OR = 2.459, CI 95% = 1.168, 5.177) and in considering whether to attempt suicide in the past 12 months (Or = 3.870, CI 95% = 1.109, 13.510), compared to students who had never used NMPD.
Weyandt et al. (2009)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Females: 255 (71,6%)	N = 363n_NMPS = 27 (7,5%)	Explore whether psychological variablesand demographic variables were related to nonmedicaluse of prescription stimulants among college students	Depression and anxiety.	BSI	Misuse of stimulants past 30 days, past 12 months	SSQ: use and misuse of prescription stimulant medications	There is a relationshipbetween stimulant use and degree of psychological distress and internal restlessness. Students who reported higher ratings on the stimulant survey also reported higher ratings of psychological distressThere is a statistically significant relationship between self-reported prescription stimulant use and stress (r = 0.356, p < 0.01)
Ford and Schroeder (2008)USA	Quantitative non-randomized	Age: 15–25M_age = 21Female = 61%	N = 11,215n_NMPSU = 224 (2%) past 30 days.n_NMPSU = 448 (4%) past year.	Analyze the relationship between academic strain and non-medical use of prescription stimulants	Academic strain, depression	Ad hoc questionnaire	Non-medical use of prescription stimulants: in the past year and the past 30 days	Ad hoc question	There is no direct connection between academic strain and stimulant use in the past year, the connections is indirect via negative affect (depression).Depression is significantly associated with non-medical prescription stimulant use (Beta = 0.045, p < 0.001), in the past year and in the past 30 days (Beta = 0.032, p < 0.001). Students who report higher levels of depression are more likely to report the non-medical use of prescription stimulants

*NMPO (Non-medical prescription opioid); NMPM (Non-medical prescription misuse); PDM (prescription drug misuse); POM (Prescription opioid misuse); STB (Suicidal Thoughts and/or Behavior); NMUPD (Non-medical Use of Prescription Drug); PSM (Prescription Stimulant Misuse); NMPS (Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants); OTC (Over the Counter); IUPS (illicit use of prescription stimulants); PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9); GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7); CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression); PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder); MDE (major depressive episode); DAST-10 (10-item Drug Abuse Screening Test); PSS (Perceived Stress Scale. 10-item self-report questionnaire); PSS-4 (4-item Perceived Stress Scale); NMPOQ (Non-medical use of prescription opioid questionnaire); NMBM (Lifetime nonmedical use of Benzodiazepine); HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); SF-CESD (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Short Form); CESD-R (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised); SSA (State Social Anxiety Scale); DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21); BSI-18 (Brief Symptom Inventory – 18); BSI (Brief Symptom Inventory); SSQ (medical and non-medical prescription stimulant medications among college students).

Depression and psychotropic drug consumption

Several studies have confirmed that the presence of depressive symptoms in university students is related to the consumption of psychotropic drugs, both with medical prescription (Balayssac et al., 2018) and without prescription or with misuse (Balayssac et al., 2018; Benson and Flory, 2017; Ford and Schroeder, 2008; Freibott et al., 2024; Gaume et al., 2024; Hua et al., 2023; Walters et al., 2018; King et al., 2020; Kouros and Papp, 2024; McCauley et al., 2011; Meshesha et al., 2017; Peralta et al., 2016; Tam et al., 2020; Teter et al., 2010; Čanković et al., 2023; Weyandt et al., 2009). Some of these results suggest a significant and direct relationship (Ford and Schroeder, 2008; Freibott et al., 2024; Gaume et al., 2024; Hua et al., 2023; Walters et al., 2018; Kouros and Papp, 2024; Meshesha et al., 2017; McCauley et al., 2011; Tam et al., 2020; Čanković et al., 2023; Weyandt et al., 2009). On the other hand, some studies report no association between depressive symptoms and psychotropic drug consumption (Sousa et al., 2020), or an inverse relationship in the case of misuse of psychotropic drugs, finding that higher depressive symptoms are associated with a lower likelihood of misusing prescribed medications (Cabriales et al., 2013; Verdi et al., 2014).

In terms of the type of psychotropic drug, the relationship between depressive symptoms and consumption is confirmed for opioids (Freibott et al., 2024; Hua et al., 2023; Meshesha et al., 2017; Weyandt et al., 2021; Zullig and Divin, 2012), stimulants (Benson and Flory, 2017; Ford and Schroeder, 2008; King et al., 2020; Teter et al., 2010; Weyandt et al., 2009; Zullig and Divin, 2012), sedatives (Gaume et al., 2024; Hua et al., 2023; Walters et al., 2018; Tam et al., 2020; Čanković et al., 2023; Zullig and Divin, 2012), and antidepressants (Zullig and Divin, 2012).

Anxiety and psychotropic drug consumption

There is evidence of a relationship between anxiety symptoms and the consumption of psychotropic drugs without medical prescription or with misuse (Balayssac et al., 2018; Cabriales et al., 2013; Freibott et al. (2024); Gaume et al., 2024; Hua et al., 2023; Jeffers et al., 2015; Tam et al., 2020; Verdi et al., 2014; Weyandt et al., 2021), particularly with stimulants (Dussault and Weyandt, 2013; King et al., 2020; Verdi et al., 2014; Weyandt et al., 2009), opioids (Freibott et al., 2024; Hua et al., 2023) ad sedatives (Gaume et al., 2024; Hua et al., 2023). Regarding the relationship with anxiety, a significant and direct association has also been identified (Balayssac et al., 2018; Tam et al., 2020). On the other hand, Walters et al. (2018) report no association between anxiety symptoms and psychotropic drug consumption.

Stress and psychotropic drug consumption

There is evidence to suggest that stress is associated with the consumption of psychotropic drugs in general (Balayssac et al., 2018; Boulton and O'Connell, 2017), as well as with non-prescription stimulants (Antshel et al., 2021; Schepis et al., 2021). Several studies have indicated a correlation between stress and the use of psychotropic drugs (Bahlaq et al., 2023; Betancourt et al., 2013; Schepis et al., 2021; Verdi et al., 2014). On the other hand, the study by Grant et al. (2018) directly associated non-prescription stimulant use with post-traumatic stress. Also, the study of Sattler (2019), reported that higher levels of stress were associated with a likely use of stimulants (named like Cognitive Enhancement drug use). Finally, the study of Bahlaq et al. (2023) reports a relationship between stimulants misuse and stress symptoms.

Suicidal behavior and use of psychotropic drugs

In general, studies find a relationship between the use of prescribed anxiolytics and opioids (Davis et al., 2020; Zullig and Divin, 2012), sedatives (Zullig and Divin, 2012), and antidepressants (Zullig and Divin, 2012) with suicidal ideation, attempts, and behavior.

On the other hand, in the study of Vidourek et al. (2010) concludes that students who had never used psychopharmaceuticals without a prescription were more likely to have lifetime suicidal ideation and to contemplate attempting suicide in the past 12 months.

Discussion

The findings confirm consistent associations between psychotropic drug use and depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in university populations. Crucially, non-prescribed use is more strongly linked to anxiety, stress, and depression, whereas prescribed use is more closely associated with suicidal ideation and behavior (particularly involving antidepressants, anxiolytics, and opioids). This dual pattern, evident across the included studies, should frame risk interpretation and guide differential prevention strategies by type of use.

Most of the identified evidence is consistent regarding the relationship between psychotropic medication and depression (Balayssac et al., 2018; Benson and Flory, 2017), anxiety (Balayssac et al., 2018; Tam et al., 2020), and stress (Balayssac et al., 2018; Betancourt et al., 2013; Boulton and O'Connell, 2017) within the university context. However, the primary finding of this systematic review indicates that symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress are more strongly associated with non-prescription psychotropic medication use (Antshel et al., 2021; Balayssac et al., 2018; Bahlaq et al., 2023; Cabriales et al., 2013; Dussault and Weyandt, 2013; Freibott et al., 2024; Ford and Schroeder, 2008; Gaume et al., 2024; Grant et al., 2018; Hua et al., 2023; Jeffers et al., 2015; King et al., 2020; McCauley et al., 2011; Meshesha et al., 2017; Peralta et al., 2016; Sattler, 2019; Schepis et al., 2021; Tam et al., 2020; Teter et al., 2010; Verdi et al., 2014; Weyandt et al., 2009, 2021). In this regard, Balayssac et al. (2018) report that students who self-medicate exhibit higher rates of anxiety and depression than their counterparts who consume some form of psychotropic medication, as directed by a medical professional.

In contrast, suicidal ideation and completed suicide were more strongly associated with prescribed psychotropic medication use, particularly antidepressants, anxiolytics, and opioids (Davis et al., 2020; Zullig and Divin, 2012). However, the study of Vidourek et al. (2010) proposed that there was a major odd of suicidal ideation in students that have ever consumed NMPD and that in a prevalence of last year, the same students were more likely to contemplated the idea of suicide.

In relation to the consumption of non-prescription psychotropic medications, the most compelling evidence suggests that these drugs are readily accessible among university students (Hulme et al., 2018; Verdi et al., 2014). In this context, it is evident that measures to enhance awareness among family and friends are essential, as they represent the primary facilitators of non-prescription psychotropic medications (Ford et al., 2020; Hulme et al., 2018; Schepis and Krishnan-Sarin, 2009; Schepis et al., 2019). Furthermore, the consumption of non-prescription psychotropic medications is associated with a number of adverse health outcomes, including overdoses, addiction, and increased demand for addiction treatment. Additionally, there is a correlation between the use of these medications and polydrug use, as well as fatalities [Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 2017].

In relation to suicidal behavior, multiple studies (Andersen et al., 2023; Choi et al., 2020; Dogan et al., 2016) clearly highlight the role of psychotropic medications. Symptoms of depression have an indirect effect through stress on suicidal ideation (Restrepo et al., 2018), suggesting that academic stressors in students with depression may increase the risk of suicidal behavior. Additionally, several studies have examined the potential adverse effect of psychotropic medication use on suicidal behavior. Khan et al. (2022) emphasized the relationship between the use of Zolpidem and an increased risk of suicide, finding a dose-dependent association.

As previously mentioned, the role of stress in relation to psychotropic drug use among university students may extend beyond a mere association between the two. Various studies have linked stress and high academic demands with psychotropic drug use (Betancourt et al., 2013; Schepis et al., 2021), motivated by the desire to enhance academic performance, increase concentration and alertness, and facilitate studying (Betancourt et al., 2013; Cook et al., 2021; Gallucci et al., 2014, Gallucci and Martin, 2015; Ghandour et al., 2012; Molloy et al., 2019; Ponnet et al., 2015; Schepis et al., 2021; Yomogida et al., 2018; Zahavi et al., 2023). In fact, the primary motivation for the use of psychotropic drugs without a prescription was academic (Schepis et al., 2021). This means that the structure of the university academic system, the demands placed on students, and their lack of active coping resources place them at greater risk of using psychotropic drugs without a prescription. As Schepis et al. (2021) argue, education extends beyond academic knowledge, with universities serving as a socialization context for promoting holistic and healthy education.

Sex and LGBTQ+ disparities

Several studies show a higher likelihood of psychotropic drug use associated with psychological distress symptoms among women (e.g., higher odds of use linked to depression and/or suicidality; effects particularly pronounced for analgesics) (Zullig and Divin, 2012).

In national female samples, major depressive episodes and posttraumatic stress disorder were associated with nonmedical use of psychotropic drugs (McCauley et al., 2011). Among LGBTQ+ students, there were indications of a higher prevalence of non-prescribed use to relieve anxiety compared with the heterosexual population (Tam et al., 2020). Conversely, some studies suggest that men with anxiety symptoms may exhibit higher consumption, although without statistically significant differences compared with women in certain samples (Benotsch et al., 2014).

Taken together, the evidence points to meaningful disparities by sex and sexual orientation that should be considered when designing preventive and institutional interventions.

Proposals from healthy university campuses

Based on the findings of the present systematic review, Healthy University Campuses provide an ideal framework for implementing measures from an integral, preventive, and structural perspective to address the use of psychotropic drugs, both prescribed and non-prescribed, linked to psychological distress among university students. It is proposed that Healthy Campus initiatives strengthen actions aimed at informing and raising awareness about the risks associated with the misuse and non-medical use of psychotropic drugs, as well as promoting a more comprehensive institutional response to student psychological distress. In this regard, it is essential to implement ongoing informational campaigns that highlight the risks of non-prescribed psychotropic drug use and its association with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and suicidal ideation. These campaigns should be complemented by the inclusion of educational content on safe medication use and healthy coping strategies in the students’ cross-curricular training programs.

Additionally, it is necessary to offer early detection services, brief interventions, and referral pathways within the university setting. To achieve this, it is recommended to establish accessible psychological support services on campus that enable early identification of emotional distress, problematic drug use, or suicidal ideation. These services should include brief, non-stigmatizing interventions and ensure timely and effective referral to primary care or external mental health services when appropriate.

Moreover, fostering students’ psychosocial well-being through the active promotion of healthy lifestyles is essential. This involves creating university environments that prioritize a balance between academic performance and key aspects such as rest, physical activity, healthy eating, and the development of meaningful social relationships. These actions should be embedded within an institutional policy that promotes well-being in a transversal and sustained manner.

Finally, there is a need to critically reflect on the current academic model. Universities must examine the structural and cultural factors that act as chronic stressors, such as competitiveness, performance pressure, and academic overload. Within this context, it is suggested that institutions explore reforms that encourage an academic culture based on meaningful learning and cooperation, as part of a broader strategy to prevent emotional distress among students. In this sense, Tam et al. (2020) emphasize the importance of analyzing the relationship between mental health and psychotropic drug use from a psychosocial and environmental perspective.

Limitations

One of the main limitations of the present systematic review is that does not consider sex as a mediating variable. Although several studies suggest subgroup differences (e.g., higher likelihood of psychotropic drug use among women (especially analgesics) and a possible higher rate of non-prescribed use to manage anxiety among LGBTQ+ students), the heterogeneity of definitions and measures, sample sizes, and the low power of subgroup analyses, together with findings that are not always consistent (e.g., higher consumption among men with anxiety without clear statistical differences), limit the strength of the inferences; therefore, the results should be interpreted as exploratory. Future studies should delve into the sex as a mediating variable between nonmedical psychotropic consumption and depression, stress, anxiety, suicidal ideation and suicide.

On the other hand, the research conducted is largely focused geographically on the United States, which hinders the generalization of the results to other countries. Similarly, various university models, as well as different economic, social, demographic, and environmental factors in each country, may influence the relationship between mental health and psychotropic drug consumption. Therefore, future studies should delve into these issues further.

In addition, the analysis of the present study has led to the emergence of several questions that future research can address and that Healthy Campuses should reflect upon. What is the role of coping styles in the use of non-prescribed psychotropic drugs in the context of psychological distress among university students? Should university students be provided with training in adaptive coping skills and strategies during their early years? It is also necessary to consider whether Healthy Campuses provide sufficient guidance and mental health support resources for the university community. What measures should be implemented to address contextual and academic determinants from an environmental perspective?

Conclusion

The results of this systematic review demonstrate a significant relationship between the use of psychotropic drugs, both prescribed and non-prescribed, and the presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior among university students. Specifically, non-medical use of psychotropic drugs is primarily associated with symptoms of psychological distress such as anxiety, stress, and depression, while prescribed use is more closely linked to suicidal ideation and completed suicide.

Moreover, disparities are observed by sex and within the LGBTQ+ population. Women show a higher likelihood of use linked to depression and suicidal behavior, and there are signs of greater non-prescribed use among LGBTQ+ students for coping with anxiety. These findings reinforce the need for intersectional approaches in both research and practice.

These findings underscore the need to adopt an integral, contextual, and preventive approach to address psychotropic drug use within the university setting. The Healthy University Campus framework offers a strategic opportunity to develop policies and programs that not only inform about the risks of non-medical use, but also promote psychosocial well-being, early detection of emotional distress, and the transformation of structural factors that contribute to such issues.

Finally, the importance of continuing to investigate this phenomenon from an intersectional and multilevel perspective is highlighted, taking into account individual, social, academic, and cultural variables. Only through a coordinated, evidence-based institutional response will it be possible to reduce problematic psychotropic drug use in universities and ensure an environment that fosters students’ mental health.

Data availability statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Author contributions

CE-C: Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. BG-A: Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing. SS-A: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing. VV-B: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. The publications and other results are supported by the AGAUR-FINO Predoctoral Program (2024 FI-1 00052) Joan Oró grants from the Secretariat of Universities and Research of the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the European Social Plus Fund. The work was supported by the Valencian International University [PII2024_141].

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Generative AI statement

The author(s) declare that no Gen AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.

Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References Aarstad-Martin

Boyraz

(2017). Posttraumatic stress, risky drinking, and prescription drug misuse in trauma-exposed college students. J. Loss Trauma 22, 599–612. doi: 10.1080/15325024.2017.1360590 Alasmari

M. M.

Alkanani

R. S.

Alshareef

A. S.

Alsulmi

S. S.

Althegfi

R. I.

Bokhari

T. A.

. (2022). Medical students' attitudes toward sleeping pill usage: A cross-sectional study. Front. Psych. 13:1007141. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1007141, PMID: 36606128 Andersen

C. U.

Ahmed

Rædkjær

Hasselstrøm

J. B.

Larsen

M. K.

(2023). Deaths caused by medication in persons not using illicit narcotic drugs: an autopsy study from Western Denmark. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 132, 111–119. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.13808, PMID: 36281709 Antshel

K. M.

Parascandola

Taylor

L. E.

Faraone

S. V.

(2021). Achievement goal orientation and stimulant misuse in college students. J. Am. Coll. Heal. 69, 125–133. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1656635, PMID: 31498751 Bahlaq

M. A.

Ramadan

I. K.

Abalkhail

Mirza

A. A.

Ahmed

M. K.

Alraddadi

K. S.

. (2023). Burnout, stress, and stimulant abuse among medical and dental students in the Western region of Saudi Arabia: an analytical study. Saudi J. Med. Med. Sci. 11, 44–53. doi: 10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_98_22, PMID: 36909001 Bakhshaie

Rogers

A. H.

Kauffman

B. Y.

Tran

Buckner

J. D.

Ditre

J. W.

. (2019). Emotion dysregulation as an explanatory factor in the relation between negative affectivity and non-medical use of opioid in a diverse young adult sample. Addict. Behav. 95, 103–109. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.02.025, PMID: 30877901 Balayssac

Pereira

Darfeuille

Cuq

Vernhet

Collin

. (2018). Use of psychotropic medications and illegal drugs, and related consequences among French pharmacy students – SCEP study: A nationwide cross-sectional study. Front. Pharmacol. 9:725. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00725, PMID: 30065649 Bavarian

Flay

B. R.

Ketcham

P. L.

Smit

(2015). The illicit use of prescription stimulants on college campuses: A theory-guided systematic review. Health education & behavior: the official publication of the Society for Public. Health Educ. Behav. 42, 719–729. doi: 10.1177/1090198115580576, PMID: 26032000 Bennett

Holloway

(2017). Motives for illicit prescription drug use among university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int. J. Drug Policy 44, 12–22. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.02.012, PMID: 28343063 Benotsch

E. G.

Koester

Martin

A. M.

Cejka

Luckman

Jeffers

A. J.

(2014). Intentional misuse of over-the-counter medications, mental health, and polysubstance use in young adults. J. Community Health 39, 688–695. doi: 10.1007/s10900-013-9811-9, PMID: 24338111 Benson

Flory

(2017). Symptoms of depression and ADHD in relation to stimulant medication misuse among college students. Subst. Use Misuse 52, 1937–1945. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1318146, PMID: 28753050 Benson

Flory

Humphreys

K. L.

Lee

S. S.

(2015). Misuse of stimulant medication among college students: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Clin. Child. Fam. Psychol. Rev. 18, 50–76. doi: 10.1007/s10567-014-0177-z, PMID: 25575768 Betancourt

Ríos

J. L.

Pagán

Fabián

González

A. M.

Cruz

S. Y.

. (2013). Non-medical use of prescription drugs and its association with socio-demographic characteristics, dietary pattern, and perceived academic load and stress in college students in Puerto Rico. P. R. Health Sci. J. 32, 89–94. Available at: https://prhsj.rcm.upr.edu/index.php/prhsj/article/view/811 Bonar

E. E.

Coughlin

Roche

J. S.

Philyaw-Kotov

M. L.

Bixler

E. A.

Sinelnikov

. (2020). Prescription opioid misuse among adolescents and emerging adults in the United States: A scoping review. Prev. Med. 132:105972. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105972, PMID: 31904397 Boulton

O'Connell

K. A.

(2017). Nursing students' perceived faculty support, stress, and substance misuse. J. Nurs. Educ. 56, 404–411. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20170619-04, PMID: 28662256 Bouvier

B. A.

Kinnard

E. N.

Yedinak

J. L.

Elston

Green

T. C.

. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptomology among young adults who use prescription opioids non-medically. J. Psychoactive Drugs 51, 441–452. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1654151, PMID: 31411548 Bryan

M. A.

Charron

Adeoye-Olatunde

Brown

Ghitza

Winhusen

T. J.

. (2021). Concomitant cannabis misuse and associations with depression, pain and substance misuse among patients prescribed opioids. Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) 9:134. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy9030134, PMID: 34449714 Cabriales

J. A.

Cooper

T. V.

Taylor

(2013). Prescription drug misuse, illicit drug use, and their potential risk and protective correlates in a Hispanic college student sample. Exp. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 21, 235–244. doi: 10.1037/a0031973, PMID: 23750694 Čanković

Mijatović

J. V.

Harhaji

Šušnjević

Ukropina

Kvrgić

. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among medical students in their first and final year of study. Vojnosanit. Pregl. 80, 41–49. doi: 10.2298/VSP220209046C Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) (2017) Health, United States, 2016: with chartbook on long-term trends in health. Health, United States, 2016, 314–317. Available online at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus16.pdf Choi

Y. H.

Choi

Y. H.

Lee

D. H.

Lim

J. Y.

Kim

Lee

J. H.

(2020). Characteristics of adolescent patients admitted to the emergency department due to attempted suicide by poisoning; a brief report. Adv. J. Emerg. Med. 4. doi: 10.22114/ajem.v0i0.268, PMID: 32322794 Colell

Sanchez-Niubo

Ferrer

Domingo-Salvany

(2016). Gender differences in the use of alcohol and prescription drugs in relation to job insecurity. Testing a model of mediating factors. Int. J. Drug Policy 37, 21–30. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.07.002, PMID: 27561136 Cook

Kurtz-Costes

Burnett

(2021). Nonprescription stimulant use at a public university: students’ motives, experiences, and guilt. J. Drug Issues 51, 376–390. doi: 10.1177/0022042620988107 Davis

R. E.

Doyle

N. A.

Nahar

V. K.

(2020). Association between prescription opioid misuse and dimensions of suicidality among college students. Psychiatry Res. 287:112469. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.07.002, PMID: 31279491 Dogan

Adıgüzel

Uysal

Sarıkaya

Ozucelik

D. N.

Okuturlar

. (2016). Differences between adolescent and adult cases of suicidal drug intoxication. Bakırköy Tıp Derg. 12, 20–23. doi: 10.5350/BTDMJB201612104 Drazdowski

T. K.

(2016). A systematic review of the motivations for the non-medical use of prescription drugs in young adults. Drug Alcohol Depend. 162, 3–25. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.01.011, PMID: 26851986 Dussault

C. L.

Weyandt

L. L.

(2013). An examination of prescription stimulant misuse and psychological variables among sorority and fraternity college populations. J. Atten. Disord. 17, 87–97. doi: 10.1177/1087054711428740, PMID: 22142699 Ford

J. A.

Pomykacz

Szalewski

Esteban McCabe

Schepis

T. S.

(2020). Friends and relatives as sources of prescription opioids for misuse among young adults: the significance of physician source and race/ethnic differences. Subst. Abus. 41, 93–100. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2019.1635955, PMID: 31295073 Ford

J. A.

Schroeder

R. D.

(2008). Academic strain and non-medical use of prescription stimulants among college students. Deviant Behav. 30, 26–53. doi: 10.1080/01639620802049900 Freibott

C. E.

Auty

S. G.

Stein

M. D.

Lipson

S. K.

(2024). Opioid misuse and mental health in college student populations: A national assessment. J. Affect. Disord. 363, 72–78. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.078, PMID: 39038626 Gallucci

A. R.

Martin

R. J.

(2015). Misuse of prescription stimulant medication in a sample of college students: examining differences between varsity athletes and non-athletes. Addict. Behav. 51, 44–50. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.004, PMID: 26217928 Gallucci

A. R.

Usdan

S. L.

Martin

R. J.

Bolland

K. A.

(2014). Pill popping problems: the non-medical use of stimulant medications in an undergraduate sample. Drugs Educ. Prev. Policy. 21, 181–188. doi: 10.3109/09687637.2013.848840 Garland

E. L.

Trøstheim

Eikemo

Ernst

Leknes

(2020). Anhedonia in chronic pain and prescription opioid misuse. Psychol. Med. 50, 1977–1988. doi: 10.1017/S0033291719002010, PMID: 31422776 Gaume

Carrard

Berney

Bourquin

Berney

(2024). Substance use and its association with mental health among Swiss medical students: A cross-sectional study. Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry 70, 808–817. doi: 10.1177/00207640241232321, PMID: 38420921 Ghandour

L. A.

El Sayed

D. S.

Martins

S. S.

(2012). Prevalence and patterns of commonly abused psychoactive prescription drugs in a sample of university students from Lebanon: an opportunity for cross-cultural comparisons. Drug and alcohol dependence, 121, 110–117. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.08.021 Glodosky

N. C.

Cuttler

(2020). Motives matter: cannabis use motives moderate the associations between stress and negative affect. Addict. Behav. 102:106188. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106188, PMID: 31706141 Grant

J. E.

Redden

S. A.

Lust

Chamberlain

S. R.

(2018). Nonmedical use of stimulants is associated with riskier sexual practices and other forms of impulsivity. J. Addict. Med. 12, 474–480. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000448, PMID: 30095567 Groenewald

C. B.

Law

E. F.

Fisher

Beals-Erickson

S. E.

Palermo

T. M.

(2019). Associations between adolescent chronic pain and prescription opioid misuse in adulthood. J. Pain 20, 28–37. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.07.007, PMID: 30098405 Gunnell

Poitras

V. J.

Tod

(2020). Questions and answers about conducting systematic reviews in sport and exercise psychology. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology 13, 297–318. Hong

Q. N.

Fàbregues

Bartlett

Boardman

Cargo

Dagenais

. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34, 285–291. doi: 10.3233/EFI-180221 Hua

Shi

Zheng

Huang

. (2023). Sex differences in the associations of non-medical use of prescription drugs with depressive and anxiety symptoms among undergraduates in China. J. Affect. Disord. 332, 254–261. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.002, PMID: 37031877 Hulme

Bright

Nielsen

(2018). The source and diversion of pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical use: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend. 186, 242–256. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.02.010, PMID: 29626777 Jeffers

A. J.

Benotsch

E. G.

Green

B. A.

Bannerman

Darby

Kelley

. (2015). Health anxiety and the non-medical use of prescription drugs in young adults: a cross-sectional study. Addict. Behav. 50, 74–77. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.06.012, PMID: 26103426 Jensen

Forlini

Partridge

Hall

(2016). Australian university students' coping strategies and use of pharmaceutical stimulants as cognitive enhancers. Front. Psychol. 7:277. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00277, PMID: 26973573 Jia

Jin

Zhang

Wang

(2018). Prevalence of drug use among students in mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis for 2003-2013. Drug Alcohol Depend. 186, 201–206. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.12.047, PMID: 29605569 Khan

Garg

Yasmeen Agarwal

N. B.

Yadav

D. K.

Khan

M. A.

Hussain

(2022). Zolpidem use and risk of suicide: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 316:114777. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114777 Kedia

Ahuja

Wyant

D. K.

Dillon

P. J.

Akkus

Relyea

(2020). Compositional and contextual factors associated with drug overdose deaths in the United States. J. Addict. Dis. 38, 143–152. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2020.1729079, PMID: 32195626 King

E. R.

Willcott Benoit

Repa

L. M.

Garland

S. N.

(2020). Prevalence and factors associated with non-medical prescription stimulant use to promote wakefulness in young adults. J. Am. Coll. Heal. 70, 174–181. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1730851, PMID: 32207639 Kouros

C. D.

Papp

L. M.

(2024). College students' prescription drug misuse over time and links with their mental health and well-being. Addict. Behav. 149:107895. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107895, PMID: 37924582 Lazarus

R. S.

Folkman

(1986). Estrés y procesos cognitivos (M. Zaplana, Trad.). Martínez Roca. Lee-Winn

A. E.

Mendelson

Johnson

R. M.

(2018). Associations between coping and marijuana use in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in the United States. Addict. Behav. 80, 130–134. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.01.025, PMID: 29407683 Lyons

R. M.

Yule

A. M.

Schiff

Bagley

S. M.

Wilens

T. E.

(2019). Risk factors for drug overdose in young people: A systematic review of the literature. J. Child Adolesc. Psychopharmacol. 29, 487–497. doi: 10.1089/cap.2019.0013, PMID: 31246496 McCauley

J. L.

Amstadter

A. B.

Macdonald

Danielson

C. K.

Ruggiero

K. J.

Resnick

H. S.

. (2011). Non-medical use of prescription drugs in a national sample of college women. Addict. Behav. 36, 690–695. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.01.020, PMID: 21356576 Meshesha

L. Z.

Pickover

A. M.

Teeters

J. B.

Murphy

J. G.

(2017). A longitudinal behavioral economic analysis of non-medical prescription opioid use among college students. Psychol. Rec. 67, 241–251. doi: 10.1007/s40732-017-0235-2 Molloy

B. K.

Stock

M. L.

Dodge

Aspelund

J. G.

(2019). Predicting future academic willingness, intentions, and nonmedical prescription stimulant (NPS) use with the theory of reasoned action and prototype/willingness model. Subst. Use Misuse 54, 2251–2263. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1645175, PMID: 31359819 Montiel

F. A.

McNab

P. R.

Gilreath

Salmeron

Williams

(2020). A comprehensive multivariate model of biopsychosocial factors associated with opioid misuse and use disorder in a 2017–2018 United States national survey. BMC Public Health 20, 1–16. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09856-2 Nargiso

J. E.

Ballard

E. L.

Skeer

M. R.

(2015). A systematic review of risk and protective factors associated with nonmedical use of prescription drugs among youth in the United States: a social ecological perspective. J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 76, 5–20. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2015.76.5, PMID: 25486389 National Institute on Drug Abuse (2018). El consumo de drogas entre los adultos mayores. Available online at: https://www.drugabuse.gov/es/publications/el-consumo-de-drogas-entre-los-adultos-mayores Page

M. J.

McKenzie

J. E.

Bossuyt

P. M.

Boutron

Hoffmann

T. C.

Mulrow

C. D.

. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 372, n71. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n71 Papazisis

Tsakiridis

Siafis

(2018). Nonmedical use of prescription drugs among medical students and the relationship with illicit drug, tobacco, and alcohol use. Subst. Abuse 12:117822181880229. doi: 10.1177/1178221818802298, PMID: 30262985 Papp

L. M.

Kouros

C. D.

Armstrong

Curtin

J. J.

(2023). College students' momentary stress and prescription drug misuse in daily life: testing direct links and the moderating roles of global stress and coping. Stress Health 39, 361–371. doi: 10.1002/smi.3191, PMID: 35994279 Pate

M. C.

Bolin

R. M.

(2019). Examining the relationship between strain and the use of nonmedical prescription drugs among college students. J. Drug Issues 49, 163–182. doi: 10.1177/0022042618812398 Peralta

R. L.

Stewart

B. C.

Steele

J. L.

Wagner

F. A.

(2016). Nonmedical use of prescription drugs in emerging adulthood: differentiating sex from gender. Addict. Res. Theory 24, 389–397. doi: 10.3109/16066359.2016.1140745, PMID: 28090200 Ponnet

Wouters

Walrave

Heirman

Van Hal

(2015). Predicting students' intention to use stimulants for academic performance enhancement. Subst. Use Misuse 50, 275–282. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2014.952446, PMID: 25438029 Pontes

N. M. H.

Ayres

Wunnenberg

Pontes

M. C. F.

(2021). Gender differences in the relationship between prescription opioid misuse and depressive symptoms and suicidality among US high school students. Nurs. Outlook 69, 641–651. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2021.01.006, PMID: 33579512 Restrepo

J. E.

Amador Sánchez

Calderón Vallejo

Castañeda Quirama

Osorio Sánchez

Diez Cardona

(2018). Depresión y su relación con el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, el estrés académico y la ideación suicida en estudiantes universitarios colombianos. Health and Addictions/Salud y Drogas, 18, 227–239. doi: 10.21134/haaj.v18i2.349 Rogers

A. H.

Orr

M. F.

Shepherd

J. M.

Bakhshaie

Ditre

J. W.

Buckner

J. D.

. (2021). Anxiety, depression, and opioid misuse among adults with chronic pain: the role of emotion dysregulation. J. Behav. Med. 44, 66–73. doi: 10.1007/s10865-020-00169-8, PMID: 32594288 Rougemont-Bücking

Grazioli

Marmet

Daeppen

J. B.

Lemoine

Gmel

. (2018). Non-medical use of prescription drugs by young men: impact of potentially traumatic events and of social-environmental stressors. Eur. J. Psychotraumatol. 9:1468706. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2018.1468706, PMID: 29760868 Sattler

(2019). Nonmedical use of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement as response to chronic stress especially when social support is lacking. Stress Health 35, 127–137. doi: 10.1002/smi.2846, PMID: 30378254 Schepis

T. S.

Buckner

J. D.

Klare

D. L.

Wade

L. R.

Benedetto

(2021). Predicting college student prescription stimulant misuse: an analysis from ecological momentary assessment. Exp. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 29, 580–586. doi: 10.1037/pha0000386, PMID: 32463280 Schepis

T. S.

Klare

D. L.

Ford

J. A.

McCabe

S. E.

(2020). Prescription drug misuse: taking a lifespan perspective. Subst. Abuse. Res. Treat. 14:1178221820909352. doi: 10.1177/1178221820909352, PMID: 32214819 Schepis

T. S.

Krishnan-Sarin

(2009). Sources of prescriptions for misuse by adolescents: differences in sex, ethnicity, and severity of misuse in a population-based study. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 48, 828–836. doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181a8130d, PMID: 19564803 Schepis

T. S.

Teter

C. J.

Simoni-Wastila

McCabe

S. E.

(2018). Prescription tranquilizer/sedative misuse prevalence and correlates across age cohorts in the US. Addict. Behav. 87, 24–32. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.06.013, PMID: 29940388 Schepis

T. S.

Wilens

T. E.

McCabe

S. E.

(2019). Prescription drug misuse: sources of controlled medications in adolescents. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 58, 670–680.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.09.4 Sousa

B. O. P.

ALT

Souza

SAD

MAD

Pillon

S. C.

(2020). Nursing students: medication use, psychoactive substances and health conditions. Rev. Bras. Enferm. 73. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0003, PMID: 32490956 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2021). Prescription stimulant misuse and prevention among youth and young adults. Rockville, MD: National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory. Tam

C. C.

Benotsch

E. G.

Weinstein

T. L.

(2020). Resilience and psychiatric symptoms as mediators between perceived stress and non-medical use of prescription drugs among college students. Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abuse 46, 120–130. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1653315, PMID: 31442086 Teter

C. J.

Falone

A. E.

Cranford

J. A.

Boyd

C. J.

McCabe

S. E.

(2010). Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and depressed mood among college students: frequency and routes of administration. J. Subst. Abus. Treat. 38, 292–298. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2010.01.005, PMID: 20129754 Verdi

Weyandt

L. L.

Zavras

B. M.

(2014). Non-medical prescription stimulant use in graduate students: relationship with academic self-efficacy and psychological variables. J. Atten. Disord. 20, 741–753. doi: 10.1177/1087054714529816 Vidourek

R. A.

King

K. A.

Knopf

(2010). Non-medical prescription drug use among university students. Am. J. Health Educ. 41, 345–352. doi: 10.1080/19325037.2010.10599163 Villanueva-Blasco

V. J.

Mateu-Mollá

Villanueva-Silvestre

Vázquez-Martínez

(2022a). Relationship between depression and risky alcohol consumption in women: the mediating role of coping styles and age. Int. J. Ment. Health Addict. 12, 1–18. doi: 10.1007/s11469-022-00931-w Villanueva-Blasco

V. J.

Villanueva-Silvestre

Vázquez-Martínez

de Vicente

L. P.

Pérez-Gálvez

(2022b). Depression, suicidal ideation, and consumption of psychotropic drugs during lockdown by COVID-19 according to gender and age. Int. J. Ment. Heal. Addict. 1–17, 1–17. doi: 10.1007/s11469-022-00962-3, PMID: 36465995 Votaw

V. R.

Geyer

Rieselbach

M. M.

McHugh

R. K.

(2019). The epidemiology of benzodiazepine misuse: A systematic review. Drug Alcohol Depend. 200, 95–114. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.02.033, PMID: 31121495 Walters

K. S.

Bulmer

S. M.

Troiano

P. F.

Obiaka

Bonhomme

(2018). Substance Use, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 27, 103–111. doi: 10.1080/1067828X.2017.1420507 Weyandt

L. L.

Gudmundsdottir

B. G.

Holding

E. Z.

Marraccini

M. E.

Keith

May

S. E.

. (2022). Prescription opioid misuse among university students: A systematic review. J. Am. Coll. Heal. 70, 1119–1137. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1786095, PMID: 32780647 Weyandt

L. L.

Gudmundsdottir

B. G.

Shepard

Brick

Buchanan

Clarkin

. (2021). Nonmedical prescription opioid use among a sample of college students: prevalence and predictors. Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) 9:106. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy9020106, PMID: 34071670 Weyandt

L. L.

Janusis

Wilson

K. G.

Verdi

Paquin

Lopes

. (2009). Nonmedical prescription stimulant use among a sample of college students: relationship with psychological variables. J. Atten. Disord. 13, 284–296. doi: 10.1177/1087054709342212, PMID: 19767596 Wheeler

P. B.

Stevens-Watkins

Moody

Dogan

Lewis

(2019). Culturally relevant risk and protective factors for nonmedical use of prescription opioids among incarcerated African American men. Addict. Behav. 93, 46–51. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.01.014, PMID: 30690415 World Health Organization. (2023). Sobresosis de opioides. Available online at: https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/opioid-overdose Yamamoto

Inada

Enomoto

Habukawa

Hirose

Inoue

. (2021). Current state of hypnotic use disorders: results of a survey using the Japanese version of benzodiazepine dependence self-report questionnaire. Neuropsychopharmacol. Rep. 41, 14–25. doi: 10.1002/npr2.12149, PMID: 33259705 Yomogida

Mendez

Figueroa

Bavarian

(2018). Correlates of recreation- versus academic-motivated misuse of prescription stimulants. J. Drug Issues 48, 472–484. doi: 10.1177/0022042618774825 Zahavi

Lev-Shalem

Yehoshua

Adler

(2023). Methylphenidate use and misuse among medical residents in Israel: a cross-sectional study. Hum. Resour. Health 21:5. doi: 10.1186/s12960-023-00792-x, PMID: 36721145 Zenebe

Necho

(2019). Socio-demographic and substance-related factors associated with mental distress among Wollo university students: institution-based cross-sectional study. Ann. General Psychiatry 18:28. doi: 10.1186/s12991-019-0252-4, PMID: 31889972 Zullig

K. J.

Divin

A. L.

(2012). The association between non-medical prescription drug use, depressive symptoms, and suicidality among college students. Addict. Behav. 37, 890–899. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.02.008, PMID: 22541802