ADHD Stimulant Drug Treatment May Increase Risk of Drug Abuse

Parents and pediatricians are sitting up and taking notice: a recent study published in the online issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior recently reported that children who take prescription medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be at increased risk for drug abuse. The journal's studies showed that methylphenidate, one of the stimulant drugs commonly used to treat ADHD in children and teenagers, influences the brain's pathways associated with reward functions. The study's researchers said more information is needed to find out how exactly the drugs" effects are measured, based on both the developmental stage when the treatment starts, and the duration of treatment. The researchers used rats that received doses of methylphenidate combined with distilled water. The medication was delivered starting one month after the animals" birth, which is considered early adolescence in rats. The rats were given either one or two milligrams of methylphenidate per kilogram of body weight, which is the same medical doses given to children diagnosed with ADHD.

The researchers also studied a control group of rats, which were managed under the same conditions as the rats who received methylphenidate but provided plain water. Researchers conducted positron emission tomography (PET) scans after two months of treatment, and then once more after eight months in order to measure dopamine D2 receptors levels. D2 receptors play an important role in the brain's capacity for feeling reward and gratification, which in turn have been linked to pleasure and drug abuse. After the entire eight-month trial, the rats were also tested for their inclination to self-dispense cocaine. Those rats that were given the increased dose of methylphenidate were considerably less likely to press the bar than self-administered cocaine. They also collected a smaller quantity of self-initiated treatments of cocaine following eight months of medication than the group that received lower doses of methylphenidate or the control animals. Additionally, the differences the researchers observed in brain chemistry correlated specifically to the duration and age the of methylphenidate treatment: Particularly, after two months of treatment, brain scans of the animals indicated that both categories had decreased levels of dopamine D2 receptors in their brains than did control rats.

Parents look to alternatives for ADHD

Although conventional drug treatments can help control ADHD behavior, they cannot improve mental or physical health. In fact, ADHD drug complications can include stunted growth, chromosome damage, increased blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and even death. In addition, prescription medications used to treat ADHD can have dangerous side effects, including nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, nervous tics, dizziness, stomach pain and headaches. With more than 10 million ADHD prescriptions filled each year in the US, any indication that these medications pose a health risk to children is reason for some concern. And as ADHD sales increase (500 percent during 1990s), many parents may wonder if there aren't alternatives to these drugs. The good news is that there are safe and clinically proven alternatives to ADHD prescription medication. Parents are encouraged to talk to their pediatricians and health care professionals about alternatives, including enhanced diet and exercise, and natural alternatives, that may help control the symptoms of ADHD.

Photo Credit: Chance Fate

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