Millions Have Misused ADHD Drugs

A study released this week estimates that more than 7 million

Americans have misused Adderall, Ritalin and other stimulant

medications used to treat ADHD, and that 75,000 showed signs

of addiction to stimulant medications.

This recent study, published in the online journal “Drug and

Alcohol Dependence,” culled data from a 2002 national survey

of about 67,000 households. Research found that men and women

were equally likely to abuse ADHD medications but that women

seemed to be at a greater risk for dependency. Men, on the

other hand, seemed to be at a greater risk of abuse.

A surprising aspect of this study was in revealing who is most

likely to misuse stimulant drugs. Most often, college students

abuse Adderall and Ritalin in an attempt to boost their

academic performance. A previous study showed that stimulant

drugs are most commonly abused in highly competitive colleges,

with B-average and below college students twice as likely to

illegally use prescription drugs.

College student increasingly recognize that Adderall and

Ritalin are much more effective than coffee or caffeine pills

at helping them sit down, focus, get their work done - through

the night if necessary - and still not interfere with their

social lives. The drug use becomes a significant problem when

college students start to abuse Adderall and other amphetamine

drugs, becoming addicted to them or experiencing toxic

effects.

With approximately 1.5 million adults and 2.5 million children

currently receiving prescriptions for ADHD medications,

finding a friend or a friend of a friend willing to sell off

their drugs is not very difficult for many people. Most

students reported getting Adderall, the stimulant of choice

due to its long lasting effects, from those that were

diagnosed with ADHD. One Adderall pill can fetch $5, which

makes selling off prescription meds a lucrative deal for those

with access to the drugs.

Colleges and universities are also reporting a sharp increase

in the amount of students making appointments at campus

medical centers to obtain their own ADD diagnosis.

Not until recently have studies examined the abuse of

prescription drugs. One study revealed that those who use

prescription stimulants are more likely to engage in binge

drinking, drunk driving, and using illegal drugs as well.

Another study indicated that those from wealthier backgrounds

were more likely to abuse both legal and illegal drugs.

In light of these past studies and the new study showing the

high rate of abuse and addiction, some experts believe that

the real focus of ADHD medication dangers should center on the

abuse of Adderall and other ADHD drugs - not the side effects.

Researchers point out that 75,000 people addicted to

stimulants is more worrisome than the 100-200 adults who have

had strokes as a result of using stimulant ADHD drugs.

Earlier this month, the FDA advisory panel recommended that

the FDA put Black Box warnings on all ADHD medications. This

black box warning - the most severe of all FDA warnings -

would state that stimulant ADHD drugs can cause cardiovascular

events and even death, especially if there’s a preexisting

heart condition.

The FDA panel expressed a hope of curtailing what is seen as

out-of-control over-prescribing of potentially dangerous

drugs. Prescriptions for ADHD drugs have doubled over the past

five years. The hope is that the black box warning will remind

parents that just because a drug is legal does not mean it is

safe. Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta are “Class B” drugs and

are in the same drug class as cocaine. These drugs have

potential for abuse, addiction and physical and mental harm -

just as other drugs in this elevated classification do.

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