Massive ADHD Drug Abuse Among Teens: Study

A new study done by researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center shows massive ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) drug abuse among teens. The study evaluated 1998-2005 data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

According to the study, poison control center calls related to teenage abuse of ADHD drugs, specifically stimulants, increased from 330 to 581 annually during that timeframe. Additionally, there were four deaths. Overall, 42% of the teens involved had moderate to severe side-effects; most ended up getting emergency-room treatment.

Naturally, one can assert that there are plenty of ADHD drug abusers who did not face adverse side-effects, and thus made no such calls. The numbers, taken in that context, are pretty alarming.

Researchers said that the rise in calls for ADHD-related issues during the timeframe of 1998 to 2005 outpaced calls for teen substance abuse in general. The study noted that during that timeframe, there was an 86% rise in ADHD prescriptions for children aged 10 to 19.

The study contradicts government-sponsored surveys, which previously suggested that teen abuse of stimulants, including ADHD drugs, had declined in recent years. The new study was to be released Monday in the August edition of Pediatrics.