If you do not realize that Adderall and other stimulants are not rampant ion our nation’s school system you must have had your head buried in the sand for quite some time. Believe me folks, it is really bad.
Estimates range from 20-33% of high school students who take these pills regularly – with and without a prescription.
All they care about is the increased focused and ability to study longer and harder. They do not realize how addictive and dangerous these medications can be.
The D.E.A. lists prescription stimulants like Adderall and Vyvanse (amphetamines) and Ritalin and Focalin (methylphenidates) as Class 2 controlled substances — the same as cocaine and morphine — because they rank among the most addictive substances that have a medical use. (By comparison, the long-abused anti-anxiety drug Valium is in the lower Class 4.)
While these medicines tend to calm people with A.D.H.D., those without the disorder find that just one pill can jolt them with the energy and focus to push through all-night homework binges and stay awake during exams afterward.
But abuse of prescription stimulants can lead to depression and mood swings (from sleep deprivation), heart irregularities and acute exhaustion or psychosis during withdrawal. Little is known about the long-term effects of abuse of stimulants among the young. Drug counselors say that for some teenagers, the pills eventually become an entry to the abuse of painkillers and sleep aids.
The number of prescriptions for A.D.H.D. medications dispensed for young people ages 10 to 19 has risen 26 percent since 2007, to almost 21 million yearly, according to IMS Health, a health care information company — a number that experts estimate corresponds to more than two million individuals.
If you or someone you care about uses or abuses prescription medications, please seek help. If you prefer to maintain anonymity there are online 15 hour drug classes too.