Prescription Medication Misuse and Mental Health among American Indians in the Plains

The misuse of prescription medications is a significant problem in the US. Misuse, particularly of antibiotics, includes sharing medication and using them outside of provider instructions. American Indian people have not had adequate representation in studies examining this issue. This study used a cross-sectional survey of American Indian reservation and urban communities in the Plains focused on mental health, prescription misuse, and addiction. One major finding is 39.2% of participants took a medication not prescribed to them, and 27.8% shared them with others. Anxiety and perceived stress showed an association with misuse, and antibiotics reported as the most misused medication.