Amphetamine Case Study

In this day and age, drugs are being prescribed without hesitation. In fact, many of these drugs are being prescribed for children with various disorders. One of these disorders is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An estimated five to ten percent of children are diagnosed with this syndrome (Taylor 11). One of the methods to treat this disorder is to use stimulants, specifically Ritalin. This method is controversial because it has many side effects and its long-term effects are unknown. It can also lead to addiction. Approximately two to three percent of elementary school children are taking some kind of stimulant to treat ADHD (Taylor 64). Since so many children are taking this medication, new problems have arisen.

The addiction of methamphetamine amongst juvenile’s and adults has reached epidemic proportions that affect the individual, families and communities. Methamphetamine abuse has crossed all social economic boundaries that have negatively impacted law enforcement, social and clinical services. According to Anglin, Burke, Perrochet, Stamper and Dawud-Noursi (2000), methamphetamine, also known as meth, crystal, or speed, is a substance that affects the central nervous system creating a stimulant effect that can be injected, smoked, snorted, or ingested orally. Individuals who use meth for an extensive period of time tend to become addicted and will likely need to continue to use meth at high levels for its effects to continue to provide the euphoric symptoms and sensations. Anglin, et al, also describe methamphetamine as a derivative of amphetamine, this form of amphetamine was often used for medication purposes in the 1950’s and 1960’s to treat symptoms of depression and obesity. Durell, Kroutil, Crits-Christoph, Barchha, and Van Brunt (2008), also stated that illicit methamphetamine use is a public health concern in the United States with an increase use among teens and young adults in the 1990s. The Mental Health Services Administration conducted a national survey on meth use in the United States and found that currently as least a half a million of Americans used or have used methamphetamine. Meth use is an epidemic that is slowly becoming a destructive

We got up in the morning and left for the airport. We had become professionals at packing and unpacking, exiting and entering hotels, jumping in cabs, trains, and planes. I felt like a world-class traveler.

Stimulants are the common type of medication perscribed as treatment. The stimulants include drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine. These medications have the most research to back up the fact that they are working as treatment. The stimulants are supposed to work by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain. (Robinson. L, Smith. M, Segal. J, 2016,) say "Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, attention and movement." These stimulants boost concentration and focus, and reduce hyperactivity. There are short-acting and long-acting stimulants used as treatment. Short-acting are used for several hours and must be taken 2-3 times a day. Long-acting also called extended release last 8-12 hours, and are taken once a day. Stimulant medications have side effects of course. Next, the authors of this article take a look at the saftey concerns of taking stimulant medications Patients taking these medications may have personality changes, become less talkative, or may seem withdrawn. These stimulants raise blood pressure, and heart rate so, there are many dangers of taking these medications for long

CM Gilmore met with all members of the household during a home visit. VC Aubrey Smith disclosed no concerns in the home; however, Bmo's behavior appeared to be very bizzare. Evidence by constantly talking, and constantly moving during the interview. Due due to the concerned behavior from the school, and pedatrician, Sharon Beall. Bmo was drug screened, and tested positive for Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, and Methadone. Bfa was not drug screened throughout the investivation, due to his demeanor being calm and normal. Bfa has been coperative with the child throughout the investigation. VC Aubrey Smith recently had to appear in court due to a truancy case. Judge Flanagan ordered for the case to be tranferred to ongoing due to the information

This case involves the suspect being arrested for H&S 11377(a)-Crystal Methamphetamine and an outstanding arrest warrant.

There are two groups of stimulants: methylphenidate-based medications, which include Ritalin, Concerta, and Metadate, and dextroamphetamine-based medications, which include Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine (Boorady 2). The two most popular of these groups, Ritalin and Adderall, have these similar side effects: loss of appetite, insomnia, dizziness, nervousness, and prone to raising blood pressure (Ogbru 1). Both of these medications are also similar in short-acting and long-acting formulations, but, according to Susan York Morris, Ritalin is highly preferred over Adderall because it reaches its performance peak much more quickly, and prevents cells from reabsorbing norepinephrines, a precursor of adrenaline (Marcovitch 476), and dopamine, a precursor of norepinephrines that conveys inhibitory in the neurological system (Marcovitch 197), keeping them active in the brain.. (Morris 2). As a child, my parents began the process of testing different medications to treat my ADHD, and they began with Ritalin because it received the majority of positive results. Unfortunately, after random spurts of aggression, irritability, and unrest, they had to try a different medication. Next, they tested Adderall, but the same results occurred, but at greater rates than the

Adderall is a form of amphetamine, legally used in a limited number of countries, primarily the United States and Canada, for the treatment of: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is available in 2 forms: instant release and extended release. Both forms are suitable for the treatment for ADHD. When used for short periods as prescribed by a physician, Adderall has the positive effect of counteracting symptoms of ADHD. This happens by: Increasing the availability of certain neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. These brain chemicals are responsible for boosting alertness, attention, and energy levels.

The United States is facing a growing epidemic of prescription opioid (PO) abuse, which contributes to increasing mortality rates. Opioids are opium-like medications used to treat severe and chronic pain. Prescription opioid drug abuse is the intentional misuse of opioids without a prescription or use of the medication in a manner other than it was prescribed, mainly with the sole purpose for euphoria. Within the United States, the rising abuse of opioids contributed to 14,800 deaths in 2008 which is four times more than the number of deaths from PO abuse in 1999 (CDC, 2011). These deaths were marked mostly as unintentional as opposed to suicide or unknown causes and continue to rise each year (Chakravarthy, Shah, & Lotfipour, 2012).

The use of controlled substances continues to be a problem within the healthcare industries. As healthcare provider, we are more concerned with pleasing the patients by giving into their demands and improving the organization’s Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHAPS) scores that we get lost in why we chose to go into the healthcare profession, to save people lives and do no

The patient tells me he continues to do well with his Adderall XR 20 mg daily. He has been taking this now since the beginning of the year and he is tolerating it without any problems. He is having no side effects. He is eating and drinking normally. He has not noticed any change in his appetite when he takes it. He does not have chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or dizziness. No palpitations. He does not think that it affects his appetite or sleep and only perceives benefit from the medication itself. When he does not take it, he says that he is not as efficient with his time, he does not have the same motivation, he does not have the same attention to detail and concentration. He is pleased when he takes it. He is able to get more things done. He is able to stay on past better, better concentration, and attention to detail.

Before people abused Adderall, it was initially used for disorders such as ADHD and narcolepsy. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a, “neurobehavioral disorder that is defined by persistent and maladaptive symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention3”. A report that was released in November of 2013, showed that around, “11 percent of children aged 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives. In adults, the rate is much lower (about 4 percent)4”. However, researchers advise that because the numbers may be higher than what was stated since adults that were not treated in their childhood are more likely to stay untreated. People that suffer from ADHD often have serious problems in school and communicating with others. It is also connected with various conditions such as mood, demeanor, and learning disorders. Narcolepsy is another common condition that is treated with Adderall. It is categorized as a sleeping disorder which causes, “excessive sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and in some cases episodes of cataplexy (partial or total loss of muscle control, often triggered by a strong emotion such as laughter)5”. The disorder occurs correspondingly in men and women and researchers think that it affects about one in two-thousand people. In the brains of those with narcolepsy, “the cluster of cells that produce hypocretin—located in a region called the hypothalamus—is damaged or completely destroyed5”. In

Adderall is prescription drug that is a derivative of two forms of Amphetamine: l-amphetamines and d-amphetamines, the latter being the larger portion (makes up 75%) as well as the more potent of the two [6]. Amphetamine (then called Benzedrine ) was first synthesized in the early 1900’s through a serendipitous discovery while searching for a cheaper substitute of another drug called ephedrine. The chemist who discovered this new drug, G.A Alles, then conducted experiments and found that this new drug was powerful stimulant. As a result, it was introduced to the public in 1935. It was advertised as a treatment for narcolepsy, mild depression, post-encephalitic Parkinson and later as an appetite suppressant. Reports of improvement in intelligence

To add to that, the research that has been conducted on the disorder has led to a variety of effective treatments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2014) the most widely used medication is a stimulant. There is a wide variety of stimulants available for ADHD subjects. Although, with these stimulants come side effects including sleep problems, decreased appetite, anxiety and other diverse uncommon side effects (NIMH, 2014). Stimulants tend to calm children with ADHD. However, these medications can be detrimental to the patient in many ways. Certain medications have been subject to abuse, including Adderall and Ritalin. These medications are in some cases abused by patients who are over diagnosed. Since these patients do not have the disorder they can feel the side effects and use the drug to achieve a certain kind of high. When using these drugs for non-medical purposes they can seem to replicate the effects of cocaine

The medical use of amphetamines was common in the 1950/60's when they were used to help cure depression and to help the user lose weight. An amphetamine is a drug that is a stimulant to the central nervous system. Amphetamines are colorless and may be inhaled, injected, or swallowed. Amphetamines are also used non-medically to avoid sleep, improve athletic performance, or to counter the effects of depressant drugs. Amphetamines are addictive. Because of this, when the user discontinues use or reduces the amount that they use, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Some withdrawal symptoms are as follows: severe exhaustion, deep sleep lasting from 24 to 48 hours, psychotic reaction, extreme hunger, deep depression, anxiety reactions, and long but