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Nonmedical use of ADHD drugs by teenagers is increasing (JW Psychiatry Apr 30 2007). To further examine this phenomenon, researchers analyzed calls in 1998–2005 to the National Poison Data System (NPDS) about ADHD medications in children ages 13 to 19 years. The investigators also obtained data on overall calls about substance abuse made to the NPDS and data on ADHD prescriptions from a national survey of physicians during the 8 study years.
ADHD drug calls to the NPDS increased by 76% from 1998 to 2005, statistically similar to the 86% increase in prescriptions of these drugs to adolescents (ages 10–19) during the same period but significantly higher than the 55% increase in calls to the NPDS about teen drug abuse overall. For mixed ampheta…