ADHD Medications:
luses and Minuses

The child who can’t sit still, doesn’t pay attention, never finishes homework, and has little selfcontrol: It’s the classic portrait of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many medical experts believe that drugs, used properly, can help most children who have ADHD to be more alert, more focused, and better able to learn and get work done.

However, there is debate about the long-term usefulness of ADHD drugs. Some experts think the drugs' effectiveness diminishes over time. Talk with your doctor, seek information from reliable Internet sources and other parents whose children are affected, and pursue additional medical opinions if you wish.

A growing illegal market for ADHD drugs has been created among teens and college students. It’s considered an easy way to get high, stay awake for days on end, or lose weight. This is a dangerous game. Abusing these drugs can cause rapid or irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, paranoia, fatal seizures, and heart failure.

Here’s what parents can do to help prevent abuse of ADHD drugs:

Protect your child. If your child has a prescription for an ADHD drug, teach the child to never share or sell medications and to tell you if someone asks to buy the pills. And check with the doctor about once-a-day doses. That way, children don’t have to carry medications with them.

Watch for signs of abuse. If your child doesn’t take ADHD drugs, these symptoms may signal that he or she is experimenting with them, or some other drug, illegally:

• Extreme wakefulness
• Lack of appetite or unexplained weight loss
• Dilated pupils
• Racing heartbeat
• Restlessness, irritability, and hostility

If you suspect stimulant abuse, seek help from your doctor.