Prescription Stimulant Abuse Among High School & College Students

Drug abuse has taken a new twist among high school and college students. Where drugs such as cocaine and heroin once dominated the drug scene, the use of prescription stimulants has now taken over. While stimulants are effective at treating complications such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), many high school and college students are now abusing prescription stimulants as part of a drug addiction.

For teenagers and young adults, usually in the 18 to 24 year old range, there is a growing use and abuse of prescription stimulants. Stimulants such as Concerta and Ritalin have become increasingly popular. While quite difficult to obtain by prescription, many students are acquiring the prescription stimulants from peers who are given the stimulants to treat conditions such as ADHD.

The use of prescription stimulants, by non-medical users, has become such a significant practice among high school and college environments that, in many cases, the number of students abusing the drug outnumber the number of students who are actually supposed to be taking the medication.

Why are students abusing prescription stimulants? Because the FDA regulated prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Concerta, provide an improvement in alertness and concentration, many students feel the prescription drug gives them an "edge" for completing homework, studying for tests and even taking tests.

Public health initiatives are reaching out to students in an effort to educate them on the risks associated with using prescription stimulants that are not prescribed to them. In the long term, prescription stimulants can lead to health complications.

The distribution of students using the prescription stimulants runs the gamut; any gender, any age, any family income status, any living situation. For this reason, teachers, parents and public health officials are finding great difficulty in designing a substance abuse program that targets one particular demographic.