Patterns of aspirin use among American youth

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.