Patterns of Aspirin Use among American Youth

Abstract

The use of aspirin was ascertained in several population cohorts. In the college age samples, aspirin had been used in the previous 48-hour period by one of every 4 students. Females reported a higher rate (33.2%) than males (16.9%). In the 4th to 12th grade samples, aspirin use was higher than other drugs with 39.6% of the 3,306 students sampled indicating that they had ingested aspirin during the previous week. In a 9--11 year-old category, 25% of these 4th to 6th graders used aspirin without parental knowledge. The relationship of aspirin use and drug education is discussed.