Stimulants
What: Prevention of stimulant misuse
Who: Youth and Young Adults, ages 14-25
How: Primary prevention strategies focus on providing information to the community about the risks and dangers of stimulant misuse and illicit stimulant use by youth and young adults.
The most common prescription stimulants are Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta. Stimulants can increase alertness, attention and energy by boosting dopamine and norepinephrine for those individuals who need them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 10% of children between ages 2 to 17 years are diagnosed with ADHD, and about 60% of them take medications for it.
Stimulants can be misused. Almost 10% of high school seniors reported non-medical use of ADHD medications in the past year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This number increases to as high as 35% among college students. More than 5 million young adults reported having a substance use disorder; 87% of those with substance use disorders went untreated.
Prescription stimulants can have uncomfortable side effects, even when prescribed by a doctor. When people misuse them, they can be especially dangerous. Misusing stimulants can cause:
high blood pressure
fast heartbeat
high body temperature
sleeping problems
angry reactions
heart problems
Keeping stimulant prescriptions locked up and accounted for is one way to ensure they stay out of the wrong hands.
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