Despite the Evidence, Overprescription of Stimulants Continues

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A new study finds that stimulant prescribing rates to children continue to rise despite the well-established evidence documenting overdiagnosis of ADHD and overprescription of stimulants.

Stimulant Drugs Have Adverse Effects on Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Students

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Study of students without an ADHD diagnosis finds that stimulants (Adderall) have little impact on cognitive performance.

Poor Evidence and Substantial Bias in Ritalin Studies

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The authors of a large scale well-conducted systematic review of methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, conclude that there is a lack of quality evidence for the drug’s effectiveness. Their research also revealed that Ritalin can cause sleep problems and decreased appetite in children.

Psychostimulants Harm Performance, as Well as Neuroplasticity

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A review of "potential neurobiological ramifications of the popular cognitive enhancers," in Frontiers of Systems Neuroscience, finds that stimulants reduce performance at higher dosages, and...

Large Increase in Poison Control Calls for Children Taking ADHD Drugs

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New data shows that calls to US poison control centers have increased significantly for children taking stimulant ADHD drugs.

Race and Class Affect Teacher Perceptions of ADHD Medication Use

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Study uncovers teachers’ attitudes surrounding ADHD medication use and examines the influence of race and social class on teacher beliefs.

African American and Hispanic Youth Discontinue ADHD Treatment at Higher Rates than White Youth

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Study examines racial and ethnic disparities in the quality of care for Medicaid-enrolled children starting ADHD medication.

Children Diagnosed with ADHD Younger are More Likely to get Multiple Medications

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New research demonstrates that children diagnosed with ADHD at younger ages are more likely than those diagnosed later to receive multiple medications within five years of their diagnosis.

CDC Reports Increased Psychostimulant Prescriptions in Women of Reproductive Age

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Psychostimulant prescriptions have increased by 344% (from 2003 to 2015) for women of reproductive age (15-44 years old).

One in Five Diagnosed With ADHD May Develop Cocaine Habit as Adults

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Research from Boston University suggests that exposure to stimulant medications such as Ritalin during adolescence may result in cocaine addiction in later life. “You...

ADHD Medication Risks Outweigh Benefits in Most Cases

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A systematic review of studies of stimulant medications for ADHD has concluded that the drugs should be used as a last resort, in rare...

JAMA Review Questions Use of Ritalin for ‘ADHD’

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In December, MIA  reported on a systematic Cochrane review on the research for the safety and effectiveness of Ritalin (methylphenidate) that found substantial bias...

Prescription Stimulant Use is Associated with Earlier Onset of Psychosis

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Individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders have an earlier onset of psychosis if they have previously been exposed to prescription stimulants, according to new research currently in press in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Effects of Psychotropic Drugs on Developing Brains: Protocol

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Animal studies have raised concerns about SSRIs and ADHD stimulants inducing lasting abnormalities in the developing brain. Researchers from the University of Amsterdam are...

More Time in Foster Care Linked to More Psychotropic Medicating

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Children as young as four in foster care are taking three or more psychotropic medications, and the length of time that children aged six...

Taking “Holidays” from ADHD Drugs Helps Prevent Growth Retardation in Children

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It's common for children and adolescents to take prolonged "drug holidays" from their ADHD medications during summer months away from school, and there appear...

ADHD Medication Slows Growth, Increases Obesity

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Treating attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with stimulants affects growth and is likely to cause a higher BMI in later adolescence, according to research from...

Long-term Safety of ADHD Drugs Has Never Been Studied

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Even though about 10% of American children have been diagnosed with ADHD and most are taking stimulant medications for it, Boston Children’s Hospital researchers...

ADHD Drug Studies Find Little Change in Academic Performance

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According to the Wall Street Journal's, story on a June study of 4000 Qubequois students, "a growing body of research finds that in the...

Behavioral Therapy (Including Parents) More Effective for ADHD than Drugs

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Stimulant medication does not improve the academic performance or test scores of the 9% of all children in the U.S. diagnosed with ADHD, according to...

Ritalin Causes Long-Lasting Change in Prefrontal Neurons

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Drexel University researchers found that methylphenidate (Ritalin) administered to juvenile rats produced significant depressive effects on pyramidal neurons. The authors conclude that "the juvenile...

Ritalin Increases Risk-Taking in Women

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Women who were asked to play a gambling were significantly more likely to keep betting when the stakes increased if they had taken Ritalin...

Many Teens Start Misusing Stimulants By Age 13

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An equal percentage of young people will start misusing ADHD-related and other stimulant drugs for the first time at age 13 as will start at age 20.

Ritalin Impairs Learning and Memory

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Ritalin reduced impulsive responses and increased the amount of time willing to stay on task of Rhesus monkeys in a study from the University...

Stimulants, But Not Cannabis, Predict Readmission for Psychosis

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Prior admissions with stimulant disorder, but not a prior cannabis disorder diagnosis, are a negative prognostic sign in first-episode psychosis according to new research...