Study Links ADHD Drug Abuse With Increase In Prescriptions

August 27, 2009 7:09 a.m. EST

Cincinnati, OH (AHN) - Abuse of drugs meant to treat attention deficit problems in children is on the rise in the United States, according to a recent analysis.

Researchers with the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center say calls to poison control centers for teens abusing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, medications were up 76 percent over eight years. These calls coincide with the number of prescriptions for the drugs, the researchers said in a statement.

The researchers gleaned their information using information from the American Association of Poison Control Center's national data system.

Dr. Jennifer Setik, a lead author of the study, said in a statement that the findings show the abuse is related to the amount of prescriptions issued, and it is not indicative of a higher percentage of those being treated for the disorder turning to misusing the drugs.

ADHD drugs are typically a mixture of the stimulates amphetamine salts and methylphenidate.