Use of medication for non-medical purposes among adolescents and young adults: Empirical perspectives
A summary of projects concerning the use of medication for non-medical purposes by adolescents and young adults indicates that practices involving sports doping, improvement of intellectual and sexual performance as well as mood control, and corporal modeling are on the increase. Recourse to these medications is often associated with the consumption of other substances (alcohol and drugs) and appears to indicate a new phase in the development of modern drug addiction. This group of studies nevertheless remains limited due to the predominance of the epidemiological approaches. These contribute to identifying the profile of the users, usually boys. The list of substances employed and the frequency of their use reveal the principal factors and determinants of the use. Nevertheless, few studies adopt explicit theoretical approaches. New paths for research are proposed which would enable a more precise evaluation of the conduct and representations associated with practices of abuse, doping and drug diversion and their significance.