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If the measure of "drug culture" in particular community is percentage of people on ADHD medications then drug culture in American schools -- elementary through
by mattdeboard 15y ago
If the measure of "drug culture" in particular community is percentage of people on ADHD medications then drug culture in American schools -- elementary through college -- is a "huge problem."
Reuters reports there were 18 million Adderal prescriptions written in 2010[1]. ABC says almost 10% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD[2]. Certainly a huge number of those diagnosed take medication for it.
1. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/01/us-adhd-adderall-shortage-idUSTRE80009E20120101 http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/01/us-adhd-adderall-s...
2. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/03/adderall-drug-shortage-will-continue-in-2012-government-officials-say/ http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/03/adderall-drug-...
- drewblaisdell 15y agoThis is an incredibly fallacious line of reasoning. Just because something is prescribed to elementary schoolers does not mean that being pressured to take it in a different context does not qualify as "abuse". Also, the comment references Provigil (also known as Modafinil) which I believe is usually only used by soldiers to stay awake for days at a time.
- mattdeboard 15y agoWho said anything about pressure? No one mentions pressure anywhere in that reddit posting. It is EXTREMELY easy to get ADHD prescriptions.
- drewblaisdell 15y agoThe user to linked said "expect pressure to do adderall" in the second sentence.
- mattdeboard 15y agoWhoops, you're right. I missed that. However I will definitely say there is pressure on parents to get their children "seen" for ADHD from schools. At least around here. I'm speaking from first-hand experience.
- nitrogen 15y agoAlso, the comment references Provigil (also known as Modafinil) which I believe is usually only used by soldiers to stay awake for days at a time. Two points: 1. Provigil is prescribed to civilians as well. 2. If it's good enough for soldiers, why not let everyone else take it too?
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- nostrademons 15y agoDrug culture in American schools is a huge problem.
- mattdeboard 15y agoI agree. I believe ADHD is a legitimate "thing" but I also believe it is over-diagnosed.
- sliverstorm 15y agoHoly crap. Does that mean that 6% of the USA is on Adderal? Or might one individual have multiple prescriptions? On a side note, there are ~75mil children in the USA, which combined with your numbers means roughly 7mil children have been diagnosed w/ ADHD.
- cperciva 15y agoDoes that mean that 6% of the USA is on Adderal? Nope. The 18 million is the number of prescriptions in a year, and most prescriptions are for far less than a year's supply.
- justin_vanw 15y agoUnbelievable! Legally, you cannot have refills for Adderall, and until recently the most they could prescribe was 1 month's worth. That means that 18M prescriptions is about 1.5M people using the medication.