6 The White Elephant in the room, Parents Unwittingly Supplying and Possibly Nurturing Prescription Drug Dealers

Could your ADHD child be dealing drugs…?  What role role could you be playing?

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So, that son of yours with ADHD, that young man with difficulty modulating his impulses, is given a controlled substance, such as Concerta or Ritalin. The ADHD medication has a high value in a black market of 5 to 10 % of his peers 1,2,3,4,5. Your son is at risk for committing a felony for illegally distributing a controlled substance. By selling that very substance that was intended to help him manage his impulses, he has the chance of being in trouble with the law. Regardless of whether he sells or gives it, whether it is for recreation or performance, he is in serious danger of making a long-term mistake with substantial consequences. This is the kind of thing parents need to consider when medicating middle school, high school and college students for ADHD.

If you need a more sobering view of this white elephant in the room scenario, a Texas law firm captures it well on their website as they describe what is occurring on America’s campuses (http://www.thibodeauxlaw.com/PracticeAreas/Prescription-Drug-Charges.asp):

“Prescription drug addiction and criminal charges for illegal possession and prescription fraud are increasing on college campuses and in communities across America. As prescription drugs such as Adderall and Xanax are used in treating symptoms and ADHD, anxiety disorders and depression, they are also increasingly abused as “speed” and “uppers” by young adults.

At the Law Offices of Lane D. Thibodeaux, Attorney Thibodeaux is Texas Board Certified in criminal defense to protect college students and young adults from felony charges for illegal possession or distribution of prescription drugs. Attorney Lane D. Thibodeaux has more than twenty years of legal experience applying defense strategies that focus on dismissing charges, or reducing felony charges.

If you are a college student charged with illegal possession or distribution of a prescription drug, or if you are the parent of a college-age student charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime, we can help.” http://www.thibodeauxlaw.com/PracticeAreas/Prescription-Drug-Charges.asp

Yes, I found this information disturbing, too. The fact that there is confusion about use and abuse of ADHD medications and that prescription drugs are being supplied to a population least suited to effectively manage the impulse to sell or abuse these ADHD drugs is a serious concern. As far as I can see, not much has been discussed about this obvious problem. It is something for you to consider when your child is 10 or 11, before the massive onslaught of peer pressure arises to influence his decision-making. In other words when your child is 10 or 11 is the time to seek out alternative treatments for ADHD. This gives you time to find something that works for you. Waiting until he is a teen puts much more pressure on you and him because the abuse of ADHD drugs is so common he will be presented with this dilemma sooner than you would prefer.

Aside from the prevalence of ADHD drug abuse on campuses, how does it rank in availability compared to the other drugs abused on campuses?

Read my next blog for that……

1Survey: One in five adults misue cognitive enhancing drugs, e-Update 2008 Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services.
2Performance enhancing, non-prescription use of Ritalin: A comparison with amphetamines and cocaine. Svetlov, Stanislav I.; Kobeissy, Firas H.; Gold, Mark S. Journal of Addictive Diseases. Vol 26(4),2007, 1-6.
3 Characteristics and motives of college students who engage in nonmedical use of methylphenidate. DuPont, Robert L.; Coleman, John J.; Bucher, Richard H.; Wilford, Bonnie B. The American Journal on Addictions. Vol 17(3), May 2008, 167-171.
4 Misuse of methamphetamine and prescription stimulants among youths and young adults in the community. Wu, Li-Tzy; Pilowsky, Daniel J.; Schlenger, William E.; Galvin, Deborah M. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Vol 89(2-3), Jul 2007, 195-205.
5 ADHD Medication Misuse by Those Aged 12 to 17 Results in Higher Number of Visits to Emergency Department. (Sep 22, 2006) US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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6 Website of Lane Thibodeaux. http://www.thibodeauxlaw.com/PracticeAreas/Prescription-Drug-Charges.asp:

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