An In-Depth Analysis on the Prescription of Stimulant Medication as a Treatment for ADHD

The Clinton foundation reports that between the years 1993 and 2006, the magnitude of college students who use prescription stimulants, such as Adderall and Ritalin, has increased by 93%, which suggests that Adderall usage in universities are at a record high (Clinton 2015). According to the National Institute of health, cognitive enhancing drugs are pharmaceuticals that are taken to improve one’s memory, learning, focus, attention, and other cognitive skills (Mehlman 2004). Adderall is a central nervous stimulant that is prescribed by a primary physician for treating medical conditions such as narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Smith). Alan Desantis, a professor at the University of Kentucky, conducted a research

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.

Christopher Wanjek, author of Smart Pills: The Truth About Cognitive Enhancing Drugs, a columnist for Live Science and a health and science writer informs readers over the strict and malicious side effects of smart pills. Throughout the article the author illustrates the merit and ethics behind the use of a drug that can become a popular norm further in the future from advocates, such as college students. However, the author feels very appalled by this and continues to further elaborate on this by exclaiming that,“Ritalin is riddled with side effects, such as heart problems, and Adderall adds all the more to the mix, such as the risk of chemical dependency”( Christopher Wanjek, December 9, 2008, Para.2). In addition, to harmful affects the

When looking at medicating a teen fro ADHD it is important to make sure they will not abuse the medication and either give it to someone who does not need it or overuse it. A webMD article states, “ The survey also found that one in seven non-students of similar age also report abusing stimulant medications” (WebMD). This becomes a problem when so many people are doing it. They are overusing the drug instead of its sole purpose. When

Nearly five years ago, Kyle Craig, a well-rounded and bright student at Vanderbilt University, took his life at the young age of 21. Kyle was described to be a “confident, but not arrogant” young man. He had a solid 3.5 grade point average and was extremely active in his fraternity. His parents said he was, “…a thrill a minute, focused, happy, achieving and social” (James). Kyle, in short, seemed to have it all together. What no one knew is that Kyle illegally looked to Adderall to keep up his “I’ve got it all together” act. Adderall is a stimulant prescription drug for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD (FDA). Kyle took Adderall illegally and abused it much too often just to perform better academically and socially. While abusing the drug, Kyle slowly began spiraling into a dangerous state of psychosis that no one seemed to catch on to. That dangerous spiral led Kyle all the way in front of a train, taking his own life (James). Kyle is not the only young college student to suffer from the effects of stimulant or amphetamine drugs like Adderall. Almost 1,000 cases of psychosis were found to be linked to medications such as Adderall or Ritalin between the years 2000 and 2005 (FDA). Stimulant and Amphetamines are also known to heighten or produce suicidal and depressive thoughts (FDA). With all of these unsettling facts, 1 in 5 college students abuse these drugs and use them as study aids (CBN News). For the last

Adderall has emerged as the leading prescription medication to treat ADHD. Approved by the FDA in 1996, Adderall prescriptions have grown in leaps and bounds, overtaking the once popular medication Ritalin as the leader in treating ADHD. The number of prescriptions given for the drug has skyrocketed in recent years, going from 200,000 in 2001, to 4.3 million in 2002, to 6.4 million in 2003. The profit margins for Shire have reflected such growth. According to manufacturers, Adderall brought in sales of $475.5 million in 2003, a 49% increase from its 2002 earning and a number that looks to continue to rise. The success of Adderall motivated Shire to extend their patent on its production until the year 2018. It also produced the birth of a new, more improved form of Adderall. Adderall XR has the same desired effects of its early counterpart, but is unique in that it contains two types of drug beads designed to give double-pulsed delivery of amphetamines, intensifying the effect and sustaining it over longer periods. While more and more doctors and parents are turning to Adderall and Adderall XR as an effective treatment for ADHD, the drug has found a comfortable niche among the college subculture.

Meanwhile, only about 4 or 5 percent are treated for it. In the early 2,000’s, Adderall abuse had become a crucial issue amongst students worldwide. According to the Wall Street Journal article, prescriptions for stimulants have risen to 2.6 million a month in 2004, from 1.6 million in 2000. It was recorded that 850,000 of those prescriptions were for Adderall.

The first study conducted by Teter, McCabe, LaGrange, Cranford, & Boyd (2006) found that there were no differences in the illicit use of Adderall between men and woman. The second study was led by Sean McCabe et al. and was designed to study the non-medical use of prescription stimulants by college students in the United States. In the study, Sean McCabe et al. found past-year Adderall abuse rates to be 5.8% amongst males and 2.9% amongst females. The results also showed past-month abuse rates of 2.8% for males and 1.6% for females (McCabe et al., 2005). After adjusting for other factors, McCabe and his colleagues determined that college men were almost two times more likely than women to report non-medical use of Adderall. The two studies found conflicting results; however, the study conducted by McCabe et al. was done on a sample that was twice as large as the sample collected by Teter et al. and collected from 119 four-year universities, making it more reliable and a better representation of the Adderall abuse scene throughout American

According to a spokesman from Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, the maker of Adderall, stimulants such as Adderall can interact with other drugs, especially when taken in higher doses than originally prescribed. Furthermore, side effects can include an increase in heart rate, agitation, and paranoia or disorientation from the insomnia caused by taking stimulants (Jacobs, 2005). Therefore, students should be educated on these risks associated with stimulant abuse. Additionally, researching the motives for prescription stimulant abuse can help researchers to better understand these behaviors and both positive and negative effects of such usage.

At The University of North Dakota, 18 year-old freshman, Zac was stressed about his schedule; balancing academics, work, and athletics all while maintaining a social life. With another busy week ahead and an important exam coming up, he felt the need to do something about his situation. He knew caffeine it wouldn’t be enough this time. Within 10 minutes, he found himself knocking on the dorm two doors down and within 15 minutes had Adderall in his possession. This pill that was supposed to be a one-time thing became a daily ritual in order to make it through the day. Zac, like many others who abused the prescription had become addicted. Adderall is a highly addictive medication most commonly prescribed to those who have ADHD or attention deficit

The use of stimulant medications such as Ritalin or Adderall in children with the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) continues to rise, albeit at a slower pace than in previous decades, a new study finds. The study authors tracked data on prescription in the US 1996 to 2008. They found that the use of drugs for ADHD was higher among children of 6-12 years and increased slightly from 4.2 percent in 1996 to 5.1 percent twelve years later. However, increase more pronounced occurred in older children, ages 13 and 18. In this group, the ADHD drugs increased more than double, from 2.3 percent in 1996 to 4.9 percent in 2008. The researchers said this reflects a greater understanding

Adderall today can cause many problems in education, as well as in the work force. Adderall is mixture of two major stimulant drugs. It was approved in 1960, when it has been prescribed by a doctor or a therapist. The drug is used to calm the central nervous system and increase the brains chemical dopamine level, which then begins to stimulate the brain (Adderall XR, 2014). By students taking Adderall when they are not prescribed, it can lead to intense concentration and focus. Students can take Adderall during major days of focus, such as major tests or little time with lot to do. Although Adderall is no issue for kids who has been prescribed it, for an unprescribed person to take it is considered breaking the law, as well as cheating. One child having an advantage among the rest of the class falls among breaking the rules which can go under cheating.

Adderall has many short and long term effects that show their many effects not only physiologically but psychologically as well. Many of these effects are felt both by people who use the drug for medical purposes and for those who abuse the drug, but many of the negative effects are mostly felt by those who abuse Adderall. Positively, Adderall increases the heart rate and the blood flow to the muscles (Effects of Adderall Use, 2015). Of the short-term negative side effects there is a chance a person may experience weight loss or loss of appetite which could lead to malnutrition and other effects such as dry mouth, trouble sleeping, restlessness, and other cardiac issues such as an irregular heart rhythm or increased blood pressure (Effects of Adderall Use, 2015). When Adderall is misused or abused a user may experience more fatigue and a decrease in concentration after the drug has worn off (Effects of Adderall Use, 2015). Although these are physiological effects that can display in a

“The figures showed that an estimated 6.4 million children ages 4 through 17 had received an A.D.H.D. diagnosis at some point in their lives, a 16 percent increase since 2007 and a 41 percent rise in the past decade. About two-thirds of those with a current diagnosis receive prescriptions for stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall, which can drastically improve the lives of those with A.D.H.D. but can also lead to addiction, anxiety and occasionally psychosis.” (Schwarz) These increasing rates at which Adderall and other stimulants are being prescribed are contributing to the pills availability

Adderall is a medicine used to treat people with Narcolepsy and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine chemicals. These chemicals affect the brain and nerves because they are central nervous system stimulants, and contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Most people use this drug for good use, but there are also some that abuse and corrupt who they are because of this drug. A woman by the username of “missluvie” tells about her story with Adderall. She had very bad depression and no motivation to do anything. Her mother told her to take Adderall, and her life was changed. She became livelier, active, and a better mother. But she soon started to realize that the drug began to take control of her life, in which she couldn’t live without it. She was addicted (missluvlie). Adderall did help her life, but it soon made it harder to live with. When she wouldn’t take adderall, she would get worse depression than before, and life would feel harder. She says she would want to sleep all day. Yes, Adderall has some benefits, but the final outcome was bad. Drugs will give you some