Abuse of prescription stimulants is more common among adolescents who get drugs from peers, according to a recent study. When taken incorrectly or without a prescription, stimulants can increase blood pressure, heart rate and overall body temperature and decrease sleep and appetite.
Researchers at the University of Florida Health found that 88 percent of teens who used drugs when they did not have a prescription in the past 30 days had obtained them from someone else. At high doses, these drugs can lead to cardiovascular problems.
"In the last 10 years a number of new stimulant medications have been approved for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, treatment, and the expansion of this market, coupled with the increasing rates of ADHD diagnosis, provides greater availability of these drugs," lead study author Yanning Wang, of the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine, said. "This raises concerns about the possible non-medical use or abuse of these medications."
During the study, researchers examined 750 adolescents. The study specifically identified two different types of non-medical users, including those who exclusively used stimulants non-medically and those who reported both using their own stimulant medication as prescribed and some form of non-medical use within the past 30 days.
Findings showed that about 7 percent reported that they had used a prescription stimulate within the past 30 days and 54 percent reported some type of non-medical use, including taking more pills than prescribed by their doctor, smoking, snorting or sniffing the medication instead of taking it by mouth, or taking someone else's medication. The most frequently reported form of misuse was using someone else's medication at 88 percent, followed by taking more medication than prescribed at 39 percent.
"It is so important for physicians and parents to counsel youth who have prescription stimulants to never share their medications," said co-author Linda B. Cottler of the university.
The study results also showed that teens who only used stimulants non-medically had more conduct problems at home and school, with higher substance abuse rates for other drugs, including tabacoo, alcohol and other illicit drugs. The same group was more likely to run with peers who also experimented with drugs.
Researchers said they're hopeful that understanding the differences in these types of non-medical users will help experts target treatment programs to prevent stimulant misuse.
The study will appear in the December issue of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
