Ways to Misuse
- Taking medicine in a way or dose other than prescribed
- Cognitive and academic enhancement
- Weight loss
- Curiosity
- Taking medicine for recreational reasons (to get “high”)
- Taking someone else’s medicine, also known as nonmedical use of prescription drug (NMUPD)
Health Risks
Repeated misuse or overdosing can cause:
- Psychosis and hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Convulsions / overactive reflexes
- Rapid breathing
- Confusion
- Aggression
- Panic states
- Abnormally increased fever
- Muscle pains and weakness
- Irregular heartbeat leading to a heart attack
- Nerve problems that can lead to a seizure
- Abnormally high or low blood pressure
- Circulation failure
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Coma
- Fatal poisoning
Misuse of prescription stimulants is considered a felony in many states. Individuals caught engaging in this behavior may face judicial consequences.
Prevalence
American Journal of Psychiatry found that about 5 million Americans are illegally taking prescription stimulants in hopes of increasing concentration and mental stamina
Approximately 16 million Americans 18+ years old use prescription stimulants with about 400,000 of those likely abusing the medication
Reasons among the 102,000 participants surveyed in 2015 and 2016 used prescription stimulants:
How misusers obtained the medication:
- 56.9% through a family member or friend with a prescription
- 21.8% buy or steal from someone they know