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Parents Use Drugs to Improve Their Kids' Grades
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| Wednesday, November 8th, 2006 | Emily Halevy | CWK Producer |
“It seems like at certain times of the year you notice it more than others. This is not an unusual phenomenon around finals, around SAT times that occur throughout the course of the year.”
– Richard Winer, M.D., psychiatrist
What lengths would you go to to help your child achieve in school?
Find an expensive tutor? Change schools? SAT prep classes? Request the best teachers?
What about giving them Ritalin?
Both “Dave” and Marisa take Adderall.
“It’s just something where you can stay up for a long period of time and really concentrate on whatever you have to do,” says “Dave”.
“It helps me on tests,” says Marisa, “like help me stay awake and studying.”
But neither of them has ADHD.
In a national survey, 67 percent of physicians polled said parents had requested ADHD medications for their children - for the sole purpose of enhancing academic performance.
Psychiatrist Dr. Richard Winer says he’s had parents approached him for the drugs. “This is not an unusual phenomenon around finals, around the SAT times that occur throughout the course of the year,” he says.
Experts say one reason is the pressure on kids to succeed.
“Society dictates more and more that our children really have to excel academically,” explains Winer, “and I think sometimes parents get so caught up in that, wanting what they feel is best for their child, that they’ll go to any means to do so.”
But what’s wrong with taking medicine to excel?
“Take a pill and get a better grade - you know, that’s just an easy way out,” says Chris Tripp, mother of three.
Experts say taking medicine to improve grades undermines a fundamental lesson: that success is the result of hard work.“There is a message that parents send,” says Winer, “it doesn’t matter what kind of parenting skills we have or what kind of scholastic abilities you have, we want to go to the quick fix and get the result, here and now.”
Beyond that, he says, it’s just not worth the risk.
“When it’s off-label, my recommendation generally is not to go with the medication, because ultimately I think that the side-effects are probably going to outweigh the benefits for those who really do not have ADHD.”
What We Need To Know
- Adderall is a fast-acting mixture of amphetamines. Amphetamines act on the brain by mimicking the neurotransmitter dopamine, which increases alertness and concentration. Studies in the late 1970s found that low-dose stimulants increase concentration and alertness in everyone, not just people with attention disorders. (National Institutes of Health)
- These are not "smart pills". You won’t become more intelligent just by taking ADHD medications; you will only become more focused and productive. (Richard Winer, M.D., psychiatrist)
- “Adderall isn't intended to enhance test scores and should only be used under medical supervision.” (Shire Pharmaceuticals Group)
- There is a misconception regarding prescription drugs. Many people think that just because a physician prescribed a drug means it is safe. (Heather Hayes, M.Ed, licensed professional counselor)
- Any benefit that a person may get from taking ADHD medications off-label will not last long. After a short time, the desired effects will wear off and the person will end up getting more of the stimulant effects of the medications: jitters, insomnia, upset stomach and decreased appetite. (Richard Winer, M.D., psychiatrist)
- These are controlled substances. Regardless of use, they need to be monitored very closely by a physician. (Richard Winer, M.D., psychiatrist)
Resources
- ADHD Support and Resources from Eli Lily
- National Institutes of Health
- HCD Research and Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion
- Simon Youth Foundation
