Many addicts are introduced to drugs through marijuana or alcohol.  However, with the booming prescription drug trade, many kids are being introduced to the drug scene with amphetamines generally prescribed for ADHD – like Adderall or Ritalin.   

There are even street names for these prescription medications.  Prescribed amphetamines are often called “Skippy”, “Vitamin R”, “Rits”, “R ball” and more.

One may wonder, if these drugs can only be obtained through prescription, how do kids get their hands on them?  Some kids and teens will sell their prescription medications to other school friends and classmates.

However, there is a thriving drug trade with these medications.  So, prescription meds can often be purchased from a drug dealer, or kids will pretend to have the symptoms of ADHD to get the drug, or they may steal the drug from medicine cabinets of friends or family.

By various means, amphetamine use in our schools is on the rise.

School-aged young adults often abuse these drugs to stay up late at night, have more energy at school, increase their concentration while they cram for a test or to lose weight.  Amphetamine abuse is becoming more and more prevalent in our schools as kids pursue higher and better grades for less effort.

Amphetamine use can cause side effects; like seizures, high blood pressure, severe headache, blurred vision, heart issues, and trouble concentrating.  Additionally, abuse of these drugs can lead to addiction, depression and mood swings.

A severe mental side effect that don’t show up until the child is an adult is long term memory loss.  Additionally, amphetamines can mess with the hormones of a growing and developing teen, causing their moodiness to go to extremes, and their natural development to be stunted or changed.

The long and the short of it is that prescription drug abuse ruins lives.  Talk to your kids about drug abuse early on.  Give them the facts of the various drugs and why using them for recreational purposes is harmful to them.

If you or a loved one is suffering from drug abuse or addiction, contact Narconon Suncoast now.  Don’t wait.  Call 1-877-850-7355.  

Sources: The Arrow, New York Times, Interview, RXlist.com, NIDA