Featured Articles

Teen abuse of prescription medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) increased sharply between 1998 and 2005, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics by researchers at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Researchers analyzed data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System during those years and discovered a 76 percent increase in the number of calls involving the abuse of ADHD prescription medications by adolescents.

Mary Robertson, RN, co-founder of the Lexington, Ken., Bluegrass Chapter of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and a former national president of CHADD commented on the importance of the study's findings:

"With the increase in the number of teens misusing or abusing prescription ADHD medications, there is an even greater need for parents, physicians and teachers to be on the 'same page' and to closely monitor adolescents who are being treated for ADHD ... As a new school year begins, it is important for parents to communicate any changes in treatment and performance with their child's teachers and doctors."

(Source: www.prweb.com)

Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, adhd medications

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

A new report indicates that abuse of stimulants prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasing among teens.

Researchers found that calls to poison centers about teen victims of prescription ADHD drugs jumped 76 percent between 1998 and 2005. That increase was greater than the 55 percent increase in calls about teen substance abuse.

"The sharp increase, out of proportion to other poison center calls and general poison center use, suggests a rising problem with abuse, teen abuse and particularly teen ADHD stimulant medication abuse," said the researchers. "It may be that abuse is rising, or it may be that increased calls are a result of the escalating severity, perhaps reflecting the shift toward amphetamine use."

The report is based on the findings of researchers at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is published in the online journal Pediatrics. Researchers reviewed data from the American Association of Poison Control Center's National Poison Data System between 1998 and 2005 for all cases of ADHD prescription drug abuse among patients ages 13 to 19.

(Sources: www.medpagetoday.com)

Labels: adhd medications, teen abuse

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments