Nonmedical Use of Prescription ADHD Drugs Among Teens Has Declined

Strategic Insights -

Despite concerns about increased stimulant prescribing, nonmedical use of ADHD drugs among adolescents has declined in the last 20 years, according to a University of Michigan study. The study found that while medical use of prescription stimulants for ADHD among adolescents increased slightly between 2005 and 2023, nonmedical use declined more. This reversal is a positive trend for parents and policymakers, as it suggests that nonmedical prescription stimulant use may not be as concerning as previously thought.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that lifetime nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among adolescents dropped from 10% in 2005 to 6% in 2023.
  • Lifetime medical use of prescription stimulants remained stable at around 8% between 2005 and 2023.
  • The decline in nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among adolescents is consistent with declines in other types of nonmedical prescription drug use, such as opioids and benzodiazepines.
  • Public health messaging, prescribing practices, and stimulant shortages are likely contributing factors to the decline in nonmedical use of prescription stimulants.
  • The findings of this study are important for clinicians and policymakers, as they suggest a reversal of the trend of increasing nonmedical use of prescription stimulants.
  • The study highlights the need for continued monitoring of substance use trends and the importance of considering population-level trends in medical and nonmedical use patterns when weighing the risks and benefits of prescription stimulants.

Statistics:

  • 10% of adolescents used nonmedical prescription stimulants in 2005, compared to 6% in 2023.
  • 8% of adolescents used medical prescription stimulants in both 2005 and 2023.
  • The decline in nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among adolescents was 4 percentage points over the 2005-2023 period.
  • The study involved 19 cohorts of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in the Monitoring the Future Study.
  • The study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sources:

  • University of Michigan news release: "Nonmedical-use-of-prescription-ADHD-drugs-among-teens-has-dropped" (https://news.umich.edu/nonmedical-use-of-prescription-adhd-drugs-among-teens-has-dropped/)
  • Journal of the American Medical Association study: "Trends in Medical and Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among US Adolescents" (DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.11260, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2836875)