Over the past decade, adolescent prescription drug abuse (PDA) has become such a serious public health problem that it is now classified as an epidemic. In addition, people who abuse prescription drugs are also at greater risk for engaging in other maladaptive behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine some key adolescent perceptions toward PDA, the incremental role of nonlinear effects, and their interaction effects with demographic variables. Using regression-based techniques, the authors report results from survey response data from more than 1,000 13- to 18-year-olds from 40 geographically dispersed areas in the United States. The results show that the effects of adolescent anxiety, the need to be popular, being a “good teen,” and the use of other restricted substances have both nonlinear effects and interaction effects with demographic characteristics on PDA risk perceptions and PDA itself. Perceptions of the risk of PDA partially mediate these effects. The authors offer implications of the pattern of results for consumer welfare and public policy.
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