Self-administration of over-the-counter medication for pain among adolescents

Objective: To examine over-the-counter (OTC) medication use and self-administration of medication among adolescents. Design: In-person survey. Settings: Three public junior high schools in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Participants: Six hundred fifty-one junior high school students (7th, 8th, and 9th grades). Main Outcome Measures: A questionnaire regarding OTC medication use and self-administration for head; stomach; ear and throat; muscle, joint, and back; and menstrual pains. Results: Of those who reported taking medication, many adolescents (58.7%-95.9%) reported taking OTC medications for each pain. Medications and knowledge about medications were obtained from a variety of sources, primarily parents. Self-administration was widespread; 58.3% to 75.9% of adolescents reported taking an OTC medication for pain without first checking with an adult in the previous 3 months. Self-administration of medication without the knowledge of adults increased significantly from grades 7 to 9 for all types of pain. Girls tended to self-administer medication more than boys. Higher levels of pain frequency and intensity were related to higher levels of self-administration for all pains except muscle, joint, and back pain. Adolescents reported that they began to self-administer medication between the ages of 11 and 12 years. Conclusion: Although a relatively responsible picture of self-administration of medication emerges, some adolescents engaged in inappropriate OTC medication use (eg, the common use of aspirin), highlighting the importance of providing adolescents with correct information about these medications.