In a Nov. 5 article in The Daily Kansan (the student newspaper of the University of Kansas), writer Abigail Bolin addressed concerns about the growing abuse of the ADHD medication Adderall on college campuses:

Adderall has a high potential for abuse and dependence, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Services, which explains the concern with its rising illegal use.

"My guess is that most students find it not problematic, having no major side effects, and helpful by being more alert," [Dr. Ty Yoshida, child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical director of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center] said. "If anything theyre thinking they are getting an edge in academic performance and/or getting 'high.'"

According to [the National Survey on Drug Use and Health], full-time college students who used Adderall without having a prescription were three times more likely to use marijuana, eight times more likely to use cocaine and tranquilizers nonmedically and five times more likely to use pain relievers nonmedically. Ninety percent were also binge drinkers, but the illicit use of Adderall doesnt seem like a dangerous thing to some students.

"I take it to stay up to study for tests," [one UK student] explained. "Or when there are game days because Id like to make it out at night after a whole day of drinking."

Labels: adderall, college, abuse

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

A new study from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found that more teenagers and their parents are seeking help from poison control centers because of incidents involving drugs for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The number of poison control center calls related to the abuse of ADHD medication has increased by 76 percent since 2001.

About 42 percent of the people who called poison control centers because of reactions to ADHD drugs ended up in emergency rooms, and four people died.

Labels: medications, abuse

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

A June 20 article on the Des Moines Register website revealed that the area experienced a spike in cases of ADHD medication abuse that resulted in hospitalization. Writer Tony Leys reported that the cases involved individuals between the ages of 13 and 24:

The misused drugs reportedly included Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta. The patients' symptoms included tremors, vomiting and racing hearts.

[Linda Kalin, director of the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center] said two of the patients intentionally misused the drugs to stay alert while studying. The other five apparently were trying to use the drugs to get high. ...

The Iowa Department of Public Health said a 2008 survey of Iowa teenagers found that four percent reported using prescription medications without a doctor's prescription.

ADHD medications and other prescription drugs are being abused in ever-increasing numbers by adolescents, teenagers, and adults in the United States and other countries. The problem of prescription drug abuse has become so widespread it has been referred to as an "invisible epidemic."

Labels: medications, abuse

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

Lawrence Diller, a member of the clinical faculty at the University of California-San Francisco, thinks that college students who are misusing the prescription drug Adderall need some guidance. The medication is designed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but it often gets used by stressed out students who need a little extra "boost" when studying for exams or finishing projects.

Adderalls most consistent effect is to give users the sense that they are doing better in their tasks ... Therefore, they perform at least a little better in reality, yet not as well as they think

If youre doing Adderall on a regular basis to cope, you may soon also need another drug. Perhaps it will be Xanax ... If youre using Adderall to get high, you are running the same risks of getting truly caught up with one of the worst drug addictions possible. Source: The Crimson (Harvard Newspaper)

Diller goes on to suggest that students who are engaging in Adderall abuse in order to cope with their collegiate workload may be better off re-evaluating their goals and career path. If the track theyre currently on is too much for them to handle with normal coping mechanisms, they may benefit from pursuing a different educational path.

Labels: medications, adderall, college, abuse

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

The Substance Abuse Minister of the South Australian government has announced that her department will develop a national paper outlining the misuse of medications designed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

[Jane] Lomax-Smith says about 5,000 young people in South Australia are taking stimulant medications for ADHD. "While in South Australia were not aware of any illicit use of this type ... certainly theres anecdotal information from around the world," she said. (Source: ABC News)

Ms. Lomax-Smith said that she is "fairly sure" that ADHD medication is being misused by young people in South Australia, and her office intends to find out for sure. The misuse of ADHD medications has been identified in many other nations as contributing to the troubling rise in teen abuse of prescription medications.

Labels: teens, abuse, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder, prescription_drugs

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

This week, the FDA approved a new drug, called Vyvanse, for the treatment of ADHD. The active ingredients in Vyvanse aren't new, but its designed to be absorbed into the body slowly, which is new.

"Drugs that are rapidly absorbed and achieve higher blood levels can produce a euphoric effect. This effect is easier to obtain by crushing short acting tablets and snorting or injecting them."

Vyvnase is a once-a-day pill that, when taken in the morning, is significantly effective until at least 6pm. Read more at WebMD.com.

Labels: medications, abuse

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments