Parents are lobbying to get MDs to put their kids on speed even if they don't necessarily suffer from Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Why? To help their children keep up with the other kids who are taking lifestyle drugs, legally or not. From MSNBC:
Parents want their kids to excel in school, and they've heard about the illegal use of stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall for "academic doping." Hoping to obtain the drugs legally, they pressure pediatricians for them. Some even request the drugs after openly admitting they don't believe their child has ADHD….
"I spoke with [some] colleagues the other day and they mentioned three cases recently where parents blatantly asked for the medication so that their children would perform better in school, yet there were no other indications that the child had ADHD," says Dr. Nick Yates, a pediatrician and director of medical ethics for Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y.
Academic doping – using these stimulant prescriptions in an effort to enhance focus, concentration and mental stamina – first started on college campuses, especially Ivy League and exclusive, competitive schools. Now, the problem is filtering down to secondary schools, Yates says, and more parents are playing a role in obtaining prescription ADHD medication for their teenagers.
