5 Myths About ADHD Drugs

Prescription stimulants—like Adderall and Ritalin—have been in the news a lot recently because some high school and college students say they take these drugs to help them study better or party longer. Prescription stimulants are usually prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and misusing them can lead to serious health problems. Let’s look at 5 myths about prescription stimulants. Myth #1: Drugs like Ritalin and Adderall can make you smarter. Fact: While these drugs may help you focus, they don’t help you learn better, and they won’t improve your grades. Being “smart” is about improving your ability to master new skills, concepts, and ideas. Like a muscle, the brain gets stronger through exercise. Learning strengthens brain connections through repetition and practice to enhance cognition—“smartness”—over a lifetime. Shortcuts, like abusing prescription stimulants, do not “exercise” the brain. Research has shown that students who abuse prescription stimulants actually have lower GPAs in high school and college than those who don’t. Myth #2: Prescription stimulants are just “brain vitamins.” Fact: Unlike vitamins, these drugs contain ingredients that can change brain chemistry and may have serious side effects. Also, unlike vitamins, they require a doctor’s prescription. If you take these drugs more often than directed, in too high a dose, or in some way other than by mouth, you are abusing the drug, which can le...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - Category: Addiction Authors: Source Type: blogs