Prevalence and correlates of prescription drug misuse among young, low-income women receiving public healthcare

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of prescription drug misuse among young, low-income women seeking care at a public clinic in Texas. Collected data on 2,976 women included frequency of use, demographic and reproductive characteristics, religiosity, smoking history, concurrent substance use, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, health beliefs, and exposure to traumatic events. Overall, 30% reported ever misusing a prescription drug and 15% reported misuse in the past year. Women who initiated sexual intercourse at younger than 15 years, used illicit drugs, and smoked everyday were more likely to have misused prescription drugs. Higher trauma, stress, and posttraumatic stress scores also were associated with ever misusing prescription drugs. This study adds to limited data available on medication misuse by young women who have few resources and demonstrates needs for prevention efforts in public clinics.