Stimulant
Abuse By School Age Children:
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Not to Scale |
What are the dangers in abusing stimulant medication?
Methylphenidate and amphetamine are potent stimulants associated with high abuse potentials and psychological dependence profiles. That does not mean that a child or young adult who is properly diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed a stimulant as part of his or her treatment would become "addicted" to his/her medication. Low-dose, oral ADHD medication is generally not associated with drug abuse or addiction. However, when these medications are taken at doses higher than those prescribed for medical treatment, one of the serious risks is drug addiction.
Misuse of these medications may cause short, intense periods of high energy. High doses often produce agitation, tremors, euphoria, tachycardia, palpitations and hypertension. Psychotic episodes, paranoid delusions, hallucinations and bizarre behavioral characteristics similar to amphetamine-like stimulant toxicity have been associated with methylphenidate abuse.
Students who give or sell their medication to friends or classmates are not only participating in conduct which could cause serious harm to another individual, but they are also engaged in illegal activity.
What is the extent of this problem?
The full extent to which adolescents are abusing methylphenidate or amphetamine products is unknown. A 1998 Indiana University survey of 44,232 high school students found that nearly seven percent of the students surveyed reported having using methylphenidate illicitly at least once and 2.5 percent reported using it monthly or more often.
Information from physicians, parents, schools, poison control centers, adolescent treatment centers, surveys, and law enforcement data suggest that adolescents who are using methylphenidate and amphetamine drug products illicitly obtain them from individuals who have been prescribed these medications for ADHD. Adolescents and young adults are giving and selling their ADHD medication to friends and classmates who either ingest the tablets, or to get a more intense reaction, will crush them into a powder that is snorted like cocaine. DEA information indicates that current prices being paid by abusers for methylphenidate (20 mg. dosage unit) range anywhere from $2.00 a tablet to as high as $20.00 a tablet in some areas.
Is there drug diversion in the schools?
The manner in which ADHD medication is handled at some schools has provided opportunities for some individuals to divert and abuse this medication. For example:
Schools have been broken into and medication supplies have been taken. In some of the police reports, the schools reported having no idea exactly how much or whose medication was taken. It is not at all surprising that these types of activities could occur.
A 1996 DEA sampling of practices employed by schools for the handling of ADHD medication indicated that most schools did not have a nurse dispensing medication. Frequently supplies were kept in unlocked desks and a variety of untrained people were tasked with giving medication to the students; namely school secretaries, parent aides, and teachers. Although most schools had regulations prohibiting students from having drugs in their possession, many junior and senior high school students were permitted to carry or administer their own medications.
Methylphenidate
and Amphetamine Prescriptions
Source: |
What precautions can schools take to ensure the safe handling of these medications?
DEA recommends that:
- the name and strength of the medication received by the clinic;
- the amount of medication received by or removed from the school (a physical count of the medication would be conducted in the presence of the parent or guardian. This same adult would initial and date the medication log);
- the dates of dispensing; and
- the name of the student to whom dispensed.
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Not to scale |
Nothing in these recommendations should be construed as authorizing or permitting any person to conduct any act that is contrary to state or local laws and regulations.
Examples of school district policy documents that address safe handling and storage of controlled substances can be viewed on the links below:
These examples are provided for informational purposes only.
Amphetamine* Consumption Per 100,000 Population January-December 2000 U.S. Average: Source: DEA ARCOS DATA |
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to enlarge image
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Methylphenidate Consumption Per 100,000 Population January-December 2000 U.S. Average: Source: DEA ARCOS DATA |
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This guide was developed and
published by:
The Drug Enforcement Administration
Office of Diversion Control
and
Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
Demand Reduction Section
June 2001
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