Misuse and Abuse of Stimulant Medications

Patterns of misuse and abuse include:

• Taking higher than prescribed doses.
• Frequent episodes of binge use followed by severe depression.
• An overpowering desire to continue inappropriate use of the medication despite serious adverse medical and social consequences.⁷

Stimulant medications are classified as Schedule II by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Schedule II drugs are medicines of accepted medical value that, if misused or abused, can lead to tolerance and psychological dependence. Codeine is an example of another Schedule II drug. Codeine is found in Tylenol® with Codeine, Robitussin® A-C and other medications commonly given to children. These medications should only be taken by mouth as prescribed by a doctor. Inappropriate use of these medications can be highly dangerous. When used as indicated, these drugs are safe, effective and non-addictive.

As the DEA explains, this does not mean that a child or young adult who is properly diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed a stimulant medication as part of his or her treatment will become "addicted" or become a drug abuser. Low-dose, oral ADHD medication is generally not associated with misuse or addiction when taken as prescribed. In fact, study findings suggest that appropriate use of stimulants in children with ADHD may decrease the likelihood of drug abuse in later life. ⁸, ⁹