Risk of drug abuse lower for teens prescribed stimulant medications early in life

 ADHD in the News 2016-04-28


Teens who take prescribed stimulant medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and methylphenidate within a medical context early in life are at lower risk for developing substance use problems in adolescence, according to a new University of Michigan study. When these medications are used early for nonmedical purposes, such as taking someone else's prescription, the teens are more likely to develop substance use problems in adolescence.