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Adult ADHD: Diversion and Misuse of Medications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Thomas J. Spencer
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Extract

In discussions of diversion and misuse of medications in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the word “misuse” is intentionally used. Abuse of a medication refers to excessive use of a drug to achieve a “high,” which may result in addiction to the medication and which causes dysfunction in a patient's life. However, misuse refers to usage of a medication without a prescription or for reasons other than that which it was prescribed. Diversion refers to the diverting of legally prescribed medication into illegal use by other than the patient. Sahakian and Morein-Zamir recently discussed the use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by individuals with a variety of disorders as well as off-label and non-prescription use by the general public. In addition to inappropriate use of medications, patients with ADHD often turn to other substances that are detrimental to their health, such as nicotine.

Type
Expert Roundtable Supplement
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 13 , Issue S15: Best Practices in Adult ADHD: Special Considerations , October 2008 , pp. 9 - 13
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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