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Updated March 07, 2014.

If you have a high school age child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who is preparing to transition to college and is taking stimulant medication as part of his or her treatment plan to help manage symptoms of ADHD, it is important to have an open dialogue with your child about the responsibilities of using the medication as prescribed.

Misuse of prescribed stimulants for ADHD is a problem on many college campuses.


One of the most common misuses of prescribed stimulants includes diversion – or diverting of the drug from its original purpose so that it is taken by someone other than the person for whom the medication has been prescribed. This illicit use of prescription stimulants among undergraduate college students has increased dramatically over the past ten years.

The most frequently prescribed stimulants for the treatment of ADHD are in the methylphenidate and amphetamine families. Stimulants are also prescribed for the treatment of narcolepsy. Stimulant medications “stimulate” the central nervous system. These drugs increase the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine available in certain parts of the brain eliciting a “focusing” effect. When stimulants are diverted or used by college students for non-medical purposes, it is often by those seeking to boost alertness and enhance academic performance.

“Sharing” Stimulant Medication

Certainly it is important for teenagers who are taking stimulant medication as part of their treatment plan for ADHD to understand the benefits of using the medication as prescribed and the negative consequences that can occur if they fail to do so.

It is equally important for these teenagers to understand that they may encounter instances in which a peer may ask them to “share” the medication.

The diversion rate of prescription stimulants on college campuses is a growing concern. Full-time college students aged 18 to 22 are twice as likely as their peers who are not full-time college students to have used Adderall (a prescription stimulant used to treat ADHD) non-medically in the past year, according research findings from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2006 and 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.

Research published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (“Medical use, illicit use and diversion of prescription stimulant medication” - March 2006) noted that the number of undergraduate students who reported illicit use of prescription stimulants exceeded the number of students who reported medical use of prescription stimulants for ADHD. The study also found that the leading sources of prescription stimulants for illicit use were friends and peers.

What Does All This Mean For Your Teen?

The transition to college brings on many new responsibilities. One of these responsibilities includes proper management of medication for ADHD. It is important to educate your teen about the pitfalls of the misuse and diversion of his or her medication. Additionally, your teen must be made aware that he or she may be approached by friends or acquaintances in college to divert the stimulant medication and therefore needs to develop strategies on how to best handle such circumstances.

Together role play situations in which your child must respond to peers who ask about “sharing” the medication. Reiterate to your child that sharing his or her medication is not only unsafe, but is illegal. Stimulants used to treat ADHD are classified as Schedule II controlled substances, as they do have potential for abuse when used in a way other than as prescribed or when used by someone without a prescription. Sharing or giving the medication away is viewed legally in the same manner that selling or distributing a controlled substance is viewed – as a crime.

Talk with your teenager about the need to safeguard the medication from theft on campus, as well. Brainstorm ideas about the best way to keep the medication protected and out of sight from others. Remind your son or daughter that he or she can always call you if they find themselves in situations in which they are uncertain or in need of help. Identify local resources, which might include specific school officials or professionals within the Student Health Center, where your child can also find support.

Additional Reading:
5 Things Your Teen Needs to Know About ADHD

<sub>Source:

Sean Esteban McCabe, Ph.D., M.S.W., Christian J. Teter, Pharm.D., B.C.P.P., and Carol J. Boyd, Ph.D., R.N.: “Medical Use, Illicit Use and Diversion of Prescription Stimulant Medication” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 2006 March; 38(1): 43–56.

U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion Control - National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS): Special Report: ADD/ADHD Stimulants in NFLIS, 2007-2011.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (April 7, 2009). The NSDUH Report: Nonmedical Use of Adderall® among Full-Time College Students. Rockville, MD.</sub>