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The Hidden Dangers of ADHD Medications

Layloni Malonson Grand Canyon University ENG-105 Dr. Priscilla Bamba 11/25/20

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2 The Hidden Dangers of ADHD Medications Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been a growing concern for people throughout the United States. Not only does ADHD worry many Americans, but the type of medications used to treat it. There are several implications about making ADHD medications safer for children, but ‘’the safety of ADHD medications is not fully known’’ (Zuddas, 2010, para. 5). While some medications can help improve the inability for children to focus their thoughts and ignore distractions, it can also have side effects that can make a child have longterm damage to their bodies leading into adulthood. ADHD medications can be dangerous for long-term use and can cause adults to have seizures, heart disease, and can abuse/become addicted. First, some medications prescribed to ADHD patients can cause seizures. Seizures can occur when the electrical impulses are not being sent to the brain cells which allows people to communicate. According to Abramowitz (2018), ‘’children who have been diagnosed with ADHD have an increased risk of seizures’’ (para. 1). Children with ADHD tend to be more emotional and have different feelings which can last longer and get in the way of everyday life. However, to overcome these obstacles it is recommended for someone who has ADHD to improve their daily habits and recognize their strengths in order to help them work more efficiently. The medications prescribed to them can make the side effects worse if they are stressed and can cause a seizure to happen. ADHD medication can affect adults throughout the years of taking them and can also give them a cardiovascular disease. Next, the long-term effects of using ADHD medications can cause heart disease in adults. These medications are called stimulants which causes your blood pressure and heart rate to rise. Taking ADHD drugs as a child into adulthood can also result in a sudden death or stroke (ADHD

3 update: New data on the risks of medication, 2006). Throughout the years, these stimulant drugs will make a child have trouble sleeping and as they get older, the side effects get worse causing adults to have heart problems. Adult ADHD affects 3% to 5% of adults worldwide and 10.5% of adult ADHD patients had a cardiovascular condition. Adults with ADHD tend to eat a lot and that causes an unhealthy lifestyle making their risks even greater (A. Sinha et al., 2016). Due to patients having to take ADHD medications throughout childhood and adulthood, they are more likely to become addicted and abuse their drug medications. Lastly, adults who have been using ADHD medication for years will evidently become addicted and abuse the use of these medications. ADHD medication can make a person become addicted because of the feeling they get that is similar to using cocaine (Bhandari, 2020). People who have been prescribed with ADHD medication and has been taking them for years will start to crave that feeling and will result in them taking more than needed. ADHD medications have that effect to make someone want more or think they need more and will cause people to depend on it or try other drugs as well. The research determined that the ADHD medication drugs does not affect everyone who has been on it for about ten years, but others may get worse side effects than some who had been using this same drug. It was mentioned that the earlier these stimulant drugs are started for children, the lower the possibilities are for there to be substance abuse in the future as adults. Overall, the impact of ADHD medications is not entirely safe for long term use. ADHD medications can cause seizures, heart disease, and can become addictive or cause patients who have been diagnosed with ADHD to abuse this medication prescribed to them. The research about this drug and how it is addictive has brought some others to believe that it does not affect a person long term. There is still research and studies that professionals are trying to evaluate to

4 make ADHD patients healthy and safe when taking these drugs that are given to them. There have already been deaths that have been calculated throughout the years from people taking ADHD medications and experiencing the worst side effects as they get older. Furthermore, clinicians are being cautious in prescribing medications to high risk groups and are taking the necessary steps to explain the importance to their patients about the use of ADHD medications. This study is important to know so the public can determine what is best for them and their family not just for a short period of time, but how it will affect them going forward.

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References Abramowitz, A. (2018, July 29). Epilepsy and ADHD https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/moods-and-behavior/mood-andbehavior-101/epilepsy-and-adhd

ADHD update: New data on the risks of medication. (2006). Harvard Mental Health Letter, 23(4), 3–5.

A. Sinha, O. Lewis, R. Kumar, S. L. H. Yeruva, & B. H. Curry. (2016). Adult ADHD Medications and Their Cardiovascular Implications. Case Reports in Cardiology, 2016. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1155/2016/2343691

Bhandari, S. (2020, June 30). ADHD and Substance Abuse https://www.webmd.com/addadhd/adhd-and-substance-abuse-is-there-a-link#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that %20abusing%20Ritalin,similar%20to%20those%20of%20cocaine

Zuddas, A. (2010). The danger of drugs. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 19, S11....