In some U.S. middle and high schools, up to 25% of teens have misused prescription stimulants for ADHD in the past year, according to a recent study. Sean Esteban McCabe, the study's lead author and director at the University of Michigan, highlighted the significant variation in misuse across schools. While some schools reported minimal misuse, others saw over a quarter of students using stimulants nonmedically.
Misuse often involves taking higher doses to achieve a high or mixing the medication with other substances. Dr. Deepa Camenga from Yale's Program in Addiction Medicine noted that students sometimes misuse these drugs to cope with academic stress, a trend previously observed in colleges but now evident in middle and high schools as well.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from over 230,000 students between 2005 and 2020. Schools with higher rates of prescribed ADHD medication use were more likely to see misuse. Suburban schools, particularly outside the Northeast, and those with higher parental education levels, also reported higher misuse rates. Additionally, students who used marijuana were four times more likely to misuse ADHD medications.
The study found that misuse wasn't limited to those with ADHD prescriptions. Even when excluding students who were never prescribed these medications, a significant association remained. Since the study's data collection ended in 2020, ADHD medication prescriptions have increased by 10% in 2021, despite a nationwide Adderall shortage.
Improper use of stimulants can lead to serious health issues, including anxiety, depression, and seizures. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration warns of severe side effects like paranoia and irregular heartbeats when stimulants are misused.
Experts note that while stimulant misuse has risen, proper use of these medications can be beneficial for children with ADHD. McCabe emphasizes that the solution isn't to restrict access for those who need them but to improve school strategies to prevent misuse. Parents can ensure schools have secure medication storage and educate their children on handling peer pressure related to drug misuse. They should also securely store medications at home and monitor their use closely. If misuse is suspected, immediate consultation with a healthcare provider is advised.