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

With treatment of ADHD people, more than not, choose the medication instead of the therapy for the easy fix. "The combination of medication and behavioral intervention, known as multimodal treatment, is the best treatment strategy for ADHD, however, stimulant medication is the most efficacious, single treatment for reducing symptoms of ADHD" (Lesesne, 2007). Evidence of medication being a much more used source of treatment shows how people want the easiest and quickest fix for unwanted behaviors and also shows how people might be motivated to become diagnosed which ADHD to get the medication that will help their standing abilities to focus and function. "Using national survey data, we recently found that medication rates among boys and girls

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

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

Research has indicated that 3-5% of the general population is afflicted with ADHD, with at least one diagnosis in every classroom in America.

This article provides background information about ADHD and lists the ADHD medication that most children consume. It also discusses why these types of medications are prescribed to children and potential side effects that are associated it with the consumption of these medications. I used information from this article mainly to help support my argument toward children consuming these medications because they can lead to many side effects in the long run.

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

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

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.

Americans are generally unaware that some of the most frequently prescribed drugs are nearly identical to illegal street drugs. For instance, Ritalin, or methylphenidate, is prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Ritalin, like Adderall, is a stimulant that produces virtually the same effects as amphetamines. Now, Americans consume approximately 90% of the world’s Ritalin. Certainly, there are children that seem to benefit from these drugs, but there’s clearly a profit motive that results in unnecessary prescriptions. Some studies estimate that as many as 1,000,000 American children are

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

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

When looking into medicating a teen or child is important to look at the look term effects or if they really need medication. Overmedicating teens and children for ADD and ADHD has become a serious problem around the world. Including worsening drug abuse, negative side effects and the parent pressure to medicate.

Adderall is a combination of stimulants (Fitzgerald & Bronstein, 2013) used to increase the patient’s ability to concentrate, focus and pay attention. The highest misuse of Adderall is by college students looking to enhance their ability to study and take test (Fitzgerald & Bronstein, 2013). The higher availability of Adderall for use by adolescents suffering from ADHD has increased the reports of misuse by adults especially students who are in need of a stimulant to increase brain function and awareness. According to Fitzgerald & Bronstein (2013) Adderall can only be prescribed by a licensed physician, just as ADHD can only by diagnosed by a psychologist, psychiatrist or physician, but the prevalent misuse of this drug persist on a national level. Primary concerns related to Adderall and other ADHD stimulant drugs are cardiovascular and central nervous system complications, which both may be fatal (Adis,