The safety of stimulant medications for ADHD has long been debated. Are these medications safe to use? Will giving children medication at a young age result in later substance abuse? Are these medications addictive? Are these medications too easily available that they pose a risk of abuse to those that don't have ADHD? As parents carefully and deliberately decide whether to have their child take medication to treat symptoms of ADHD, all these questions come into play.
Are Stimulant Medications Safe?
Most modern literature about ADHD medications indicate that, when stimulant medication is used as prescribed, and under the supervision of a medical doctor, they are both safe and effective. These medications have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of ADHD, such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. They can help a child, or adult, think through situations before jumping in, plan and follow through tasks. But these medications are not "magic pills." They don't cure ADHD or take away all the symptoms. Medications are meant to be used as one part of a treatment plan. Behavioral strategies, such as creating "to-do" lists or using technology to remind yourself of appointments, should be used as well. In addition, each person reacts differently to medication. Some people find symptoms almost disappear with medication, some find medication barely helps. Some people find it hard to tolerate the side effects, for example, increased heart rate and blood pressure, loss of appetite or headaches, and others feel very little side effects. Because of these differences, it is important to consistently speak with a medical professional about your, or your child's, experiences on the medication. With close monitoring, these medications have been found to be very safe. Research has shown that a treatment plan combining medication and behavioral strategies is the most effective treatment for ADHD.
Will Giving Children Medication at a Young Age Result in Later Substance Abuse?
If a child becomes accustomed to taking medication to control behavior, will he later turn to abusing other drugs or alcohol later in life? Surprisingly, most studies show the opposite is true. According to the article, Addiction Issues with ADHD Medications, "...individuals with ADHD who use stimulant medication to control their symptoms are less likely to become addicts than are individuals with ADHD who are not on medication. In addition, research shows that treating ADHD with stimulant medication appears to reduce the risk of later substance abuse problems by half."
Treating ADHD seems to cut many of the behavioral risks that can develop in teens and adults. Larua Pickford Ramirez [ADHD Medications: Are ADHD Drugs Addictive and Should You Give Them to Your Child?] offers the following statistics for untreated ADHD:
- 55 percent abuse drugs and alcohol
- 35 percent drop out of high school
- 19 percent smoke cigarettes
- 42 percent of hyperactive boys are arrested for a felony charge by the age of 16
Treatment for ADHD significantly reduces these statistics, and according to the previous information the statistic for substance abuse is cut in half when treatment for ADHD is used.
