Medications for ADD and ADHD have been around for decades with the positive effect of helping afflicted children improve test scores and behaviors and avoid social ostracism. It allows a group of kids to realize their potential who otherwise would not. From the introduction of these medications for widespread use in the 70′, there have been problems. Often a prescription was writen prior to a more thorough assessment being done and other issues, such as emotional, developmental or familial are ignored. Statistically, it was clear early on the kids treated with these meds were more likely to have legal issues or addictions as young adults. Then, unfortunately, teenagers realized how good they felt taking them in high doses.

There has been an epidemic of abuse as all these meds are, essentially, speed. The FDA now has attempted to limit access, with mixed results. Unsupervised teens with a vulnerability for addictions find these meds.

The new trend is for the “smart” kids to use these meds to increase test scores. This is the equivalent of a marathon runner taking speed to make his first 200 yards really fast. It is not sustainable, something any professional person will tell you is the key element of advanced education. But the lure is there.

In our “quick fix”, win at all costs culture, stimulants are a seductive lure at every level. Doctors want happy patients and parents want short cuts. It is truly time modern medicine and our cultured as a whole rethink stimulants. I have easily 100 adult ADHD patient in my practice, by the way, and use stimulants on less than 10. Rethinking takes time, but the outcomes are always better.