STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — One in four adults using prescription stimulants are misusing them, a new medical study recently revealed, and nearly one in 10 had a serous problem.
The stimulants are typically prescribed for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The study, newly published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked closely at the troubling prevalence in prescription stimulant misuse.
The study found that about one in four adults aged 18 to 64 using prescription stimulants reported misusing them, and nearly one in 10 had prescription stimulant use disorder (PSUD), defined as the improper or unhealthy use of a prescription stimulant medication.
Among those with PSUD, nearly three-quarters (72.9%) exclusively used their own prescribed stimulants.
Additionally, 87.1% used amphetamines, 42.5% did not report misusing their medication, and 63.6% had mild PSUD.
For the study, researchers used data from more than 83,000 adults aged 18 to 64, who took part in the 2021-2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, along with prescription data from the 2019-2022 IQVIA Total Patient Tracker and National Prescription Audit New to Brand databases.
The study also highlights that individuals using amphetamines were far more likely to misuse their medication compared to those on methylphenidate.
“High prevalence of prescription stimulant misuse and PSUD (regardless of misuse status) suggests the importance of ensuring clinically appropriate use and of screening for and treating PSUD among all adults prescribed stimulants, especially those using amphetamines,” the study stated.
ADHD prescriptions are rising
The study highlights a significant rise in adults being prescribed stimulants, especially women aged 35 to 64, with numbers climbing from 1.2 million in early 2019 to 1.7 million by late 2022.
But these women are misusing their prescription stimulates less compared to other groups, according to the study.
The study found that 13.7% of women aged 35 to 64 misused their stimulants, compared to 22% of men in the same age group and 36.8% of women aged 18 to 25.
The study details that with more people receiving prescriptions for stimulants, there’s growing concern that misuse and PSUD could increase.
“Findings may suggest potential progress in addressing the mental health care gap for middle-aged women and the need for evidence-based clinical guidance and training on benefits and risks of prescription stimulants for adults,” the study writes.