Misuse of ADHD Medication in Schools Signals Alarm
A recent study reveals that one in four teenagers in some US middle and high schools admitted to misusing prescription stimulants meant for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) within the past year. The study, led by Sean Esteban McCabe, the director of the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health at the University of Michigan, is the first national research to examine the non-medical application of these drugs among middle and high school students.
McCabe noted a significant variation in misuse across schools, with some reporting negligible or no misuse, while others recorded over 25% of students using stimulants in non-medical ways. The study is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address this issue.
Non-medical use of stimulants can involve taking higher-than-recommended doses to induce euphoria, or combining the medication with alcohol or other substances to enhance the effect. Students commonly misuse these medications due to academic stress, often resorting to these drugs to stay awake longer to study or complete assignments.
The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, analyzed data collected from 2005 to 2020 by Monitoring the Future, a nationwide survey assessing drug and alcohol use among secondary school students. The survey included over 230,000 students in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades from 3,284 schools.
Schools with the highest rates of prescription ADHD medication use were 36% more likely to have students misusing these drugs in the past year. Even in schools with few or no students using such treatments, the problem persisted, albeit to a lesser extent.
The data also revealed that schools located in suburban regions, excluding the Northeast, had higher rates of teen misuse of ADHD medications. Schools with a higher proportion of White students, those where binge drinking was prevalent, and those where one or more parents had a college degree also reported more instances of stimulant abuse.
Individual students who reported using marijuana in the past 30 days were four times more likely to misuse ADHD medications. Moreover, students who had used ADHD medications before were 2.5% more likely to misuse stimulants.
However, the issue is not confined to students with ADHD misusing their medications. The association remained significant even when students who were never prescribed ADHD therapy were excluded.
Since the study, prescriptions for stimulants have surged by 10% during 2021 across most age groups, despite a nationwide shortage of Adderall, a popular ADHD drug. Misusing these medications can lead to stimulant use disorder, resulting in anxiety, depression, psychosis, and seizures. If taken excessively or combined with alcohol or other substances, these drugs can cause sudden health problems, including paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, and irregular heartbeat.
Individuals who misuse ADHD medications are also more likely to have multiple substance use disorders. Over the past two decades, stimulant drug abuse has increased as more adolescents are diagnosed and prescribed these medications.
However, when used correctly, stimulants can effectively treat children with ADHD. The solution to stimulant misuse among teenagers is not to limit their usage for those who genuinely need them. Instead, it is crucial to scrutinize school strategies aimed at curbing misuse and ensure that schools have safe medication storage and strict dispensing policies.
Families can help by discussing with their children how to respond when peers request a pill or two for partying or studying late. Parents should store medication in a lockbox, monitor pill count, and be alert to early refills. If misuse is suspected, parents should immediately contact their child's prescriber for screening and assessment.