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Misuse of ADHD stimulant medications declines sharply among young adults

Misuse of stimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has declined sharply.

9 Jul 2026

Brain imaging reveals how stimulant drugs improve performance in ADHD

Prescription stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall, are widely used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including in children.

26 Dec 2025

Underweight children face higher risk of stopping ADHD medication early

Children who are underweight are more likely to stop taking their ADHD medication within a year. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg on methylphenidate, a common pharmacological treatment in ADHD.

13 Nov 2025

Researchers to analyze shorter ADHD treatment lengths among Hispanic and Black patients

The National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has awarded $3.7 million to Indiana University researchers to investigate the complex relationship between ADHD medications and serious substance use problems among vulnerable youth and young adults.

3 Oct 2025

Telehealth for ADHD treatment linked to higher substance use disorder risk

For nearly five years, people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have had the option of getting their stimulant medications prescribed and renewed by doctors they see only over a computer screen, despite the risks that these stimulant drugs can pose if misused.

6 Mar 2025

High-dose amphetamine use linked to increased risk of psychosis or mania

Prescribing rates for stimulants that treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased significantly over the past decade, with some of the largest increases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic.

12 Sep 2024

Emotional dysregulation identified as core symptom of ADHD

Cambridge scientists have shown that problems regulating emotions – which can manifest as depression, anxiety and explosive outbursts – may be a core symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

22 May 2024

Study links long-term ADHD stimulant use to increased risk of cardiomyopathy

Young adults who were prescribed stimulant medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were significantly more likely to develop cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle) compared with those who were not prescribed stimulants, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.

27 Mar 2024

Patients with narcolepsy face a dual nightmare of medication shortages and stigma

Nina Shand couldn't stay awake. She had taken afternoon naps since she was a teenager to accommodate her "work hard, play hard" attitude, but when she was in her mid-20s the sleepiness became more severe.

3 Jan 2024

ADHD drug could serve as a cocaine-replacement therapy

Cocaine use continues to be a public health problem, yet despite concerted efforts, no drugs have been approved to resolve cocaine addiction. Research suggests that the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drug methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin) could serve as a cocaine-replacement therapy, but clinical results have been mixed.

30 Aug 2023

Prescription stimulants safe for treating ADHD, study finds

Many parents whose kids take prescription stimulants like Ritalin to treat ADHD worry that it could lead to illicit drug use later.

11 Jul 2023

End of covid emergency will usher in changes across the US health system

The Biden administration's decision to end the covid-19 public health emergency in May will institute sweeping changes across the health care system that go far beyond many people having to pay more for covid tests.

22 Mar 2023

Researchers gain new insights into ADHD drug's mechanism of action

For decades, doctors have treated kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with methylphenidate, a stimulant drug sold as Ritalin and Concerta, making it one of the most widely prescribed medications aimed at the central nervous system.

8 Dec 2022

Human gene variant in ADHD, autism exposes sex-dependence of neuronal signaling mechanisms

The prevalence, age of onset, and clinical symptoms for virtually all neuropsychiatric disorders differ between men and women. Among the disorders with pronounced sex bias are Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), where the ratio of males/females diagnosed is approximately 4 to 1.

21 Sep 2022

Study shows prevalence and misdiagnosis of post-concussive syndrome in children after mild head injury

A new study by Tel Aviv University, Kaplan Medical Center and Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) found that one in four children (25.3%) who have been discharged from the emergency room after a mild head injury are misdiagnosed and continue to suffer from persistent post-concussion syndrome for many years.

24 Mar 2022

Few-foods diet leads to a significant decrease in ADHD symptoms

Children whose ADHD symptoms were drastically reduced after following a few-foods diet showed increased activity in a specific part of the brain.

22 Nov 2021

Stimulant users more likely to drink heavily and use other drugs, study finds

College students who misuse stimulant drugs or nootropics like Adderall or Ritalin are also likely to drink heavily and use other drugs, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

28 Sep 2021

With a diagnosis at last, Black women with ADHD start healing

Miché Aaron has always been a high achiever. The 29-year-old is in her third year of a planetary sciences doctoral program at Johns Hopkins University, where she researches minerals found on Mars. She's a former NASA space grant scholar and hopes to become an astronaut one day.

20 Jul 2021

Study analyzes two different classes of drugs in a large group of preschoolers with ADHD

In a multi-institutional study, researchers in the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network (DBPNet), led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), have conducted the first and largest analysis to date comparing the effectiveness and side effects of stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and alpha-adrenergic agonists like guanfacine (Tenex) in preschool-age children.

5 May 2021

Study provides the most detailed picture on stimulant use by LGB individuals

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals report higher rates of medical, non-medical, and illegal stimulant use compared to heterosexuals, mirroring patterns seen in other substance use.

24 Sep 2020