By Frank J. Granett R. ph.
The Price of ADHD Business health segment on the Price of Business radio recently interviewed Elizabeth Reader, Director of Milford Counseling center www.milfordcounseling.com The Milford Counseling Center is a very successful outpatient substance abuse clinic in Milford, Michigan. Elizabeth Reader is also the president and co-founder of the Regional Anti-Drug Education and Outreach (R.A.D.E.O.) non-profit organization which serves to educate healthcare professionals as well as the public regarding the use and abuse of chemical substances.
The illicit consumption of Adderall on college campuses in the US has reached epidemic status. Adderall is the most widely abused scheduled Class II controlled substance consumed by young adults to gain focus and executive function while attending college. The Adderall epidemic on college campuses is also referred as “academic doping” for the short sighted purpose of increasing performance on college exams and assignments. Adderall is used illicitly with opiate and benzodiazepine prescription medications including Xanax, Klonopin and Valium. Adderall abuse with other prescription medications may lead to addiction which requires professional treatment to rehabilitate. Listen to the interview with Elizabeth Reader here…..
Although the short term effects of Adderall may increase executive function, the long term side effects toward overall health and wellness are now known. More serious long term effects due to higher dosing and abuse may include extreme anxiety leading to depression as well as aggressive or paranoid behavior. A more alarming and related statistic regarding behavioral challenges on college campuses involves suicide. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in the US college student population. Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in Washington DC revealed a 270 percent increase, during a 5 year period, in emergency room visits due to the abuse of ADHD stimulant medications mixed with other chemical substances including opiates. This statistic was collected by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) and involved individuals over the age of 18.
Academic doping on college campuses requires immediate intervention to prevent abuse as well as long term addiction. Universities have begun the implementation of strict regulations regarding the prescribing of Adderall at college clinics. The University of California at Fresno is one of the first universities to implement strict ADHD prescribing regulations. Many universities are now following their lead. Attention to the academic doping epidemic has also reached the US Congress. Senators are encouraging university campus clinics nationwide to implement stricter ADHD prescribing protocols.
Adderall is the most widely prescribed ADHD stimulant. ADHD-like symptoms are very real and can become debilitating to a child or adult. Ruling out underlying nutritional, physiological and environmental risk factors should be comprehensively assessed prior to prescribing ADHD stimulant therapy. ADHD prescribing protocols at university clinics for college students should also be reformed. Developing a healthy focused mind prior to premature drug therapy is possible and requires a differential diagnosis involving healthcare professionals from multiple fields of expertise.
Learn how to develop a healthy focused mind prior to premature drug therapy by following The Action Plan for Behavioral Conditions at www.CAOOY.org as well as The American Epidemic: Solutions for Over-medicating Our Youth
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