Nonmedical
prescription drug use (NMPDU) has become a major public health issue but little is known in Asian populations. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of NMPDU in Taiwan. Participants from the 2014 national survey of 17,837 individuals, aged 12 to 64 year, completed anonymously a computer-assisted self-interview. Past-year
prescription drug use was divided into medical use only (MUO) and nonmedical use (NMU), defined as using the
drug without a prescription, or more frequently, or in larger doses than prescribed. Problematic alcohol use was measured using the
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), problematic
drug use using the 20-item Drug Abuse Screening Test (
DAST), and depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression (CES-D). The prevalence of past-year NMU was 3.02% for
analgesics, 0.71% for
sedatives/
hypnotics, and 3.66% for either
drug, with a very small overlap of NMU between
analgesics and
sedatives/
hypnotics (0.07%). When individuals with NMU were compared to those without NMU (Non-NMU) and those with MUO, respectively, some correlates consistently identified, including young adulthood, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and greater AUDIT's scores for
analgesics, as well as hard
drug use and greater
DAST's scores for
sedatives/
hypnotics. NMU was associated with greater CES-D's scores for both
analgesics and
sedatives/
hypnotics when compared to Non-NMU but not to MUO. Robust correlates of NMPDU could offer implications for development of prevention strategies of NMPDU.