Prevalence of Nonmedical Use of Methylphenidate (Ritalin) in Residents

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of nonmedical use of methylphenidate and the attitude toward this use in residents of clinical specialties of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Two hundred and forty residents of clinical specialties (88 women) were selected using convenient sampling from Rasul Akram and Firouzgar Hospitals. The sample responded to a modified version of the Alcohol، Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)، as well as a questionnaire of attitude toward methylphenidate use. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and chi square test. The lifetime، one year، and one month prevalence of methylphenidate use in the sample was 48%، 23%، and 6. 6%، respectively. The prevalence was significantly higher in men than in women (2=13. 16; p<0. 01). The main reason for the use of methylphenidate was getting prepared for the residency exam. Twenty percent of the residents had a positive and 40% had a negative attitude toward methylphenidate use. Nonmedical use of methylphenidate is high among residents of different specialties and many of them did not have a negative attitude toward nonmedical use of methylphenidate.