ADHD Black Market

By Adam Wilkenfeld

“Sometimes different people, sometimes they’ll come back and be like, you know, have you changed your mind?” -Devin McAdams, 15- “This is the Concerta, and I was offered $5 per pill for that, and this is the Ritalin, and I was offered $10 per pill for that,” says 15-year-old Devin McAdams as he looks through his medicine cabinet.

For Devin, these pills are medicine – he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But for the many teens at his school that offer to buy his pills, these are black-market drugs. “In middle school, I was only approached by five or six kids, and then when I got to high school, I was approached by five or six kids per month,” Devin says.

A recent survey from the University of Wisconsin confirms that the problem is huge. Researchers say more than one third of students who take ADHD medicines have been asked to sell or trade them.

“These are controlled substances, and when [they] use them in ways they never were intended, then the outcomes can be very bad,” says Steven Garber, a clinical psychologist. For example, he says, “A particular kid who has an underlying cardiac problem or something else, or who just takes too much of this at one time, can be seriously damaged or can die from it.”

It’s dangerous. That’s why Devin says he won’t sell. “I can see that as a real temptation. I’m proud that Devin’s made the right decision because I know he’d love to have the money,” says Devin’s father, Ed McAdams.

“It really tells us that on the front end we need to be sure that the medications at home are secure, that they’re supervised when they’re given out,” Garber agrees.

At home, and at school, he says, students should be given their medicine one pill at a time to avoid the temptation. And parents should explain that selling any medicine without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal.

Ritalin Abuse

By Tom Atwood

Along with cocaine and methamphetamine, Ritalin (or methylphenidate) is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. It is legal, widely used and is effective in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, according to Prevention First, Inc., Ritalin is also one of the most popular street drugs in America. The Drug Enforcement Administration rates it as one of the top 10 controlled substances stolen from pharmacies and other licensed handlers. And it is one of the most abused controlled substances available legally today.

The most recent evidence of this comes from a study at the University of Wisconsin Human Development Center. Six hundred fifty-one students, aged 11-18, were asked if they were taking a stimulant medication for ADHD. Of the 50 who responded positively, 34% reported being approached to sell or trade their medication, and 53% of students not taking ADHD medication reported that some students taking Ritalin gave it away or sold it.

Prevention First, Inc., says Ritalin is popular enough on the black market to have earned several nicknames of which parents should be aware:

“Vitamin R” “R-Ball” “Skippy” “Jif” The “Smart Drug” Ritalin is abused by crushing and snorting the pills or by dissolving the powder into intravenous solutions to be injected. Used in these ways, the drug produces short-term mood elevation, followed by a period of sluggishness, sleepiness or depression.

What Parents Need to Know

Prevention First, Inc., lists the following facts about Ritalin:

It was first developed in the 1940s. It is a mild central nervous stimulant. It was prescribed to 3 million children in 1996. Although Ritalin is a stimulant, it has the opposite effect on children who are hyperactive. It reduces hyperactivity by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain. Used effectively and in properly monitored doses, it improves children’s ability to learn by increasing the ability to concentrate and focus.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) urges parents to find out as much as they can about any psychiatric medicine recommended as part of their children’s treatment plan. By asking the following questions, the AACAP says children, adolescents and their parents will gain a better understanding of psychiatric medications, such as Ritalin:

What is the name of the medication? Is it known by other names? What is known about its helpfulness with other children who have a similar condition to my child? How will the medication help my child? How long before I see improvement? When will it work? What are the side effects that commonly occur with this medication? What are the rare or serious side effects, if any, which can occur? Is this medication addictive? Can it be abused? What is the recommended dosage? How often will the medication be taken? Are there any other medications or foods that my child should avoid while taking the medication? Are there interactions between this medication and other medications (prescription and/or over the counter) my child is taking? Are there any activities that my child should avoid while taking the medication? Are any precautions recommended for other activities? How long will my child need to take this medication? How will the decision be made to stop this medication? Does my child’s school nurse need to be informed about this medication?

Resources

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry www.aacap.org The Human Development Center, University of Wisconsin www.uwec.edu/hdc Prevention First, Inc. www.prevention.org