Prescription stimulants often abused by teens - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

Prescription stimulants often abused by teens

Often, drug abuse begins with a legitimate prescription. (©iStockphoto.com/Gord Horne) Often, drug abuse begins with a legitimate prescription. (©iStockphoto.com/Gord Horne)

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By Brooke Barnett
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Prescription stimulants are often used to treat disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Drugs like amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin) help people with ADHD feel calmer and more focused. They can also be used to narcolepsy.

But these drugs can also be abused. When they are used improperly, stimulants can harm a person's health.

These drugs are easy to come by, too. Teenagers can often get them from classmates or friends with prescriptions. In fact, among high school seniors, amphetamines are the third most commonly used illicit drug.

The dangers of misuse
People abuse stimulants for many reasons. Some might use them to stay awake. Others use them to improve focus or to lose weight. And some people use them to get high.

Stimulant drugs increase blood pressure, breathing, heart rate and body temperature. They make it harder to sleep and make you less hungry. Over time, these effects can be dangerous. In fact, abuse can lead to:

  • Fevers and headaches
  • Feelings of anxiety, hostility and paranoia
  • Malnutrition
  • Irregular heartbeat, heart attack or stroke
  • Dangerously high body temperature
  • Seizure, tremors and muscle twitching

The threat of addiction
When used properly, stimulants can help people with ADHD feel better. And at the right dosage, people with ADHD do not become addicted. Under the care of a doctor, people start with a small dose and gradually raise it to an effective dose.

In contrast, illicit use often involves larger doses or taking the medicine the wrong way. For instance, someone who is abusing stimulants might crush and snort a pill. This raises the risk of addiction by amplifying the effects of the drug. It also raises the risk of withdrawal symptoms, such as depression and fatigue.

Treatment and prevention
Addiction to prescription stimulants is typically treated with behavioral therapy. Under a doctor's care, the patient gradually takes less and less of the drug until he or she is off of it. The doctor may be able to help treat withdrawal symptoms. There are different types of behavioral therapies. Counseling and support groups are important to help the person stay drug-free.

To help prevent addiction:

  • Always follow your doctor's instructions and take medicine as prescribed.
  • Never stop or change drug doses without talking to your doctor.

To help prevent stimulant abuse:

  • Never share prescription medicines.
  • Keep medicines in a locked cabinet.
  • Talk with your children about the dangers of drug abuse.
  • Stay involved in your children's education, friends and activities.

SOURCES:

 

Copyright © 2010 myOptumHealth.

 

  • Teter CJ, McCabe SE, LaGrange K, Cranford JA, Boyd CJ. Illicit use of specific prescription stimulants among college students: prevalence, motives, and routes of administration. Pharmacotherapy. 2006;26(10):1501-1510.
  • The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Prescription stimulants. Accessed: 05/27/2010
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA InfoFacts: stimulant ADHD medications - methylphenidate and amphetamines. Accessed: 05/27/2010
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse. Treating prescription drug addiction. Accessed: 05/27/2010
  • The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Ritalin. Accessed: 05/27/2010
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse. Preventing and recognizing prescription drug abuse. Accessed: 05/27/2010
  • U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Methylphenidate. Accessed: 05/27/2010
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse. Preventing drug use among children and adolescents: a research-based guide for parents, educators, and community leaders. National Institute on Drug Abuse, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health; October 2003. NIH publication 04-4212(B). Accessed: 05/27/2010
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