Prescription stimulants: when used as prescribed, prescription stimulants are safe drugs that help millions of teens. But abusing them is dangerous and can be addictive.

• Position: HEADS UP: REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY

The most recent Monitoring the Future survey shows a disturbing fact: Prescription stimulants such as Adderall[R] and Ritalin[R] are two of the drugs most frequently abused by high school seniors, with 6.5 percent reporting nonmedical use of Adderall[R] in the past year. (1) Doctors prescribe stimulants to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy (a sleep disorder), and, occasionally, depression.

When taken as prescribed, these medications help a lot of people. Unfortunately, they are too often abused by being taken in doses and/or in ways other than intended, or by being used by someone for whom they were not prescribed. Prescription stimulants are powerful drugs, and when they are abused there can be serious health consequences, including addiction. Read on to get the facts about prescription stimulants and why abusing them is dangerous.

What Are Prescription Stimulants?

Prescription stimulants include medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin[R] and Concerta[R]) and amphetamines (Dexedrine[R] and Adderall[R]). These medications, which are in the same class of drugs as cocaine and methamphetamine ("meth"), increase alertness, energy, and attention. Like all stimulant drugs, prescription stimulants increase levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, movement, and attention.

How Do Prescription Stimulants Treat ADHD?

People with ADHD have problems maintaining attention (e.g., fidgeting or trouble concentrating), and may be more hyperactive and impulsive than others of the same age. For teens, this can result in difficulty with completing schoolwork or other tasks. Doctors prescribe stimulants such as Concerta[R] and Adderall[R], sometimes in combination with counseling, to treat these symptoms. These stimulants can have a calming effect on people with ADHD that helps them focus, dramatically improving their ability to stay organized and complete tasks. When prescribed, stimulant medications are usually started at a low dose and gradually increased until symptoms subside, or until side effects become problematic. When taken as directed, prescription stimulants produce slow, steady increases of dopamine in the brain. Scientists think that these gradual increases may help to correct abnormal dopamine signaling that may occur in the brains of people with ADHD.

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Why Do They Require a Prescription?

Prescription stimulants are strong medications, and...