Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It has often criticized stimulant prescription, such as Adderall, which are mainly used to treat the distraction hyperactivity disorder.
“We have destroyed this whole generation,” he said last year during a podcast, referring to the number of children taking psychiatric drugs. “They have been poisoned them.”
In February, the “Make America Healthy Again” committee, led by Mr Kennedy, announced plans to evaluate the “threat” of drugs such as stimulants.
But is it a threat? And if so, to whom?
Like many medicines, stimulant prescription have possible side effects and there are people who abuse them. However, these medicines are also considered some of the most effective and well -researched treatments that psychiatry has to offer, said Dr. Jeffrey H. Newcorn, Director of the ADHD department and learning disorders at the ICAHN School of Medicine on Mount Sinai in New York.
Here are some answers to common questions and concerns about stimulants.
What are stimulants prescription?
Stimulating prescription are drugs that help change the way the brain works by increasing communication between neurons.
They are divided into two categories: Methylphenidic (such as Ritalin, Focalin and Concerta) and amphetamines (such as Vyvanse and Adderall).
Medicines are most often prescribed for the treatment of ADHD, but are also used for conditions such as narcolepsy or a diet disorder. Sometimes they are also used out of the marking, for treatment -resistant depression or catastrophe, a syndrome that can cause the patient to move in unusual ways, become motionless or stop talking.
Medicines work by enhancing the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine of neurotransmitters in nerve cells of the brain. Dopamine plays a role in creating a desire for something and the motivation to get it, while norepinephrine can increase alertness and facilitate focus.
People with ADHD may have a deficit of both of these chemicals, so when using stimulants they essentially help “even those out,” said Dr. Anthony L. Rostain, president of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Cooper University Health Care, which is based in Camden NJ NJ
For some users, the results are deep. “It’s like glasses for bad eyesight,” Dr. Rostain said.
Are they always stimulated to treat ADHD?
No.
Not all those diagnosed with ADHD get stimulants. There are also non -stimulant drugs, such as strattera (atheistine). And some people need no medicine at all.
Other interventions, such as behavioral therapy, parents’ education, school supports and lifestyle changes to regulate sleep and exercise, are important – regardless of whether or not one needs medication.
How many people get them?
The use of stimulant recipes has increased since 2012, especially among adults, and has increased strongly in recent years among women and patients aged 20 to 39 years.
In 2023, about 6 % of adults had a current ADHD diagnosis and about one -third of patients who reported they were received by prescription stimulants, according to an analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In children and adolescents, however, the number of stimulant recipes has been more stable in recent decades.
Overall, it is estimated that about 5 % of children in the US are currently prescribed medication for ADHD (not 15 percent, the number stated by Mr Kennedy during the hearing confirmation in January.)
A study published in February found that recipes were really reduced among the children after the start of the pandemic.
How often are the abuse of prescription stimulants used?
Government investigations into drug use show that in 2022, among people 12 years and over, 1.5 % reported that abuse of prescription stimulants in the past year – taking drugs without a doctor who tells them to do so in the way they were prescribed. Sometimes people seek to be more productive or stay awake, but drugs are also used entertaining and can produce high by swallowing, smoking or hitting the drug – or infusion in blood circulation.
Young adults aged 18 to 25 years had the highest abuse rates: 3.7 %.
Among adolescents 12 to 17, the abuse rate was much lower: 0.9 %.
This number can vary depending on where they live: in some US schools, up to 1 in 4 high school students report mismanagement of prescription stimulants, often motivated by their desire to work better at school. Some schools do not report any problem with abuse of stimulants.
What are the possible side effects?
Taking stimulants can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, reduced appetite, difficulty sleeping and anxiety or disturbance.
Other common side effects include headaches, increased body temperature and abdominal pain.
Less often, stimulants are known to temporarily slow the development of a child, Dr. Rostain said, so they should have their height and weight being monitored by a medical provider while taking drugs.
There is also a low risk of psychosis development that can be linked to the dosage. And when stimulants are abuse, they can be addictive.
Patients and their doctors should weigh the benefits of taking stimulants against these risks. ADHD, especially when left untreated, is associated with reckless behaviors such as careless driving, unsafe sex, substance abuse and aggression. A recent study showed that people with a diagnosis are on average die earlier than their peers – about seven years earlier for men and about nine for women.
How long should stimulants be used?
It depends.
Studies have shown that ADHD symptoms can change over time, improve and then worsen again or vice versa. “It’s not consistent,” said Dr. Rostain. “Kula and decrease for many people.”
As a result, he added, people may end up using intermittent ADHD drugs.
Still, some people take these medicines in the long run, said Dr. Lenard A. Adler, director of NYU Langone Health’s ADHD program.
“This is always suitable when one is stable in psycho -stimulants to try to reduce the dose,” Dr. Adler added.
If a patient continues to do well, he said, then it is worth investigating if the drug is still necessary.
Is there still a shortage of drugs?
Yes.
The lack of stimulants that started in 2022 continues. According to the Food and Drug Administration, since March, tablets and patches with methylphenidate hydrochloride, as well as other types of amphetamine tablets, are either unavailable or in a short period of time.
The availability of specific drugs and compositions can vary depending on the area, Dr. Rostain said.
“It leads to great uncertainty, unpredictable and a lot of patients’ concern,” he added.
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