Is non-medical use of prescription sedatives and sleeping pills associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in undergraduate university students

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health is a public health concern on university campuses. However, little is understood about the etiology of mental health in this population. Purposes: To measure the association between the non-medical use of sedative and sleeping pills in the past three months and moderate-extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in the past week, in undergraduate students at the University of Ontario Institutes of Technology (University of Ontario Institute of Technology). Methods: Cross-sectional study of undergraduate students enrolled in the faculty of health sciences and faculty of education at University of Ontario Institute of Technology in the Fall semester of 2017. Findings: Few students reported lifetime (7.8%) and past three month (3.7%) non-medical sedative and sleeping pill use. More students reported moderate-extremely severe symptoms of depression (30.3%), anxiety (47.3%), and stress (25.5%). I found no association between non-medical sedative and sleeping pill use and moderate-extremely severe symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. Discussion: Despite no association between non-medical sedative and sleeping pills use and symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression, students must be educated about the potential negative health impacts of non-medical sedative and sleeping pill use.