ADHD meds overused and misused

Posted In:  Medical & Pharmaceuticals

Publish Date:  March 14, 2013

Over the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of diagnoses of and medications prescribed for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. In a new statement issued by the American Academy of Neurology, doctors stress the “ethical and medical implications” of prescribing these drugs to healthy kids and teens. Although a child with ADHD may benefit from treatment, otherwise healthy kids, who have not been diagnosed with ADHD but believe their performance in school can be improved, are increasingly using these medications.

In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says that 1.7 percent of eighth graders and 7.6 percent of 12th graders have used Adderall. Although some of these prescriptions are obtained from doctors to treat youngsters with diagnosed psychological disorders, other children may get the drug from their peers or on the street. This is especially worrisome to Dr. William Graf of Yale University and lead author of the statement, who says that this is the equivalent of giving “amphetamines to kids. I think we have to be worried about how that affects the brain, mood, rational thought.”…To Read More….