Many Teens Who Take Adderall as “Study Drug” May Be Unaware it is Amphetamine

An October 2017 study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence reports that many American teens who take the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall as a “study drug” are unaware it is an amphetamine.

Some high school and college students use stimulants like Adderall because they think it will improve their mental function and school performance. Use of amphetamines like Adderall without a doctor’s order is known as nonmedical use. It can lead to abuse and dependency, as well as harmful medical problems such as seizures, heart problems, and increased drug use.

Researchers studied the responses of more than 24,000 high school seniors who took part in a national survey between 2010-2015. Although 8 percent reported nonmedical amphetamine use and 7 percent reported nonmedical Adderall use in the past year, about 29 percent of nonmedical Adderall users reported no nonmedical amphetamine use.

“Findings suggest that many young people are unaware that Adderall is an amphetamine,” said Joseph Palamar, leader author of the study conducted by the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at New York University's Meyers College of Nursing in New York City. “These percentages about prescription stimulant misuse may actually be underestimated. Better drug education is needed to inform the public about common drugs like amphetamines and opioids.”

Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine used primarily to treat symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It may also benefit those who suffer from sleep disorders and severe depression. As a central nervous system stimulant, it speeds up and heightens bodily processes. More about the study can be found at: http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/S0376-8716(17)30527-6/fulltext