Study drugs and academic integrity: Beliefs about an academic honor code predict nonmedical prescription drug use for academic reasons

College health professionals and administrators are concerned about students’ non-medical prescription drug (NMPD) use for academic purposes, particularly when these drugs, sometimes called “study drugs,” are used illegally without a prescription. We examined the use of NMPDs in academic situations and the role of beliefs about academic integrity in such use. An anonymous online survey of students was conducted at a private liberal arts college which has an academic honor code. Students reported their NMPD use during three academic activities and indicated the extent to which they believed that use during these activities should constitute a violation of the honor code. Of the full student body recruited, 35% (697/1982) responded; 52 were excluded because they had prescriptions for the drugs. Of the N=645 participants, 19.1% reported academic NMPD use, with 16.1% reporting use when completing an assignment, 15.5% when studying for an examination, and 8.4% during an examination. Logistic regression analysis indicated that academic use of NMPDs was more likely (OR=1.37, p=.000) among those with stronger beliefs  that such use should not be a violation of the honor code than among those with stronger beliefs that use should be a violation. Also, men, members of fraternities and sororities, and those who knew other students who used NMPDs academically were more likely to report academic NMPD use. The findings point to the potential value of defining academic NMPD use as an issue of academic integrity and seeking to reduce use through academic policies such as those found in academic honor codes.