Reports of 13 to19-year-olds misusing ADHD medications have increased 76% over the past eight years (according to the national Poison Control Center) as ADHD meds have become known among kids for their performance-enhancing qualities. Their stimulant characteristics resemble that of cocaine. And while kids are using ADHD meds as a classroom pick-me-up or to study longer and later at night, these drugs are wreaking havoc on their developing adolescent bodies.

Know! The Myth: ADHD prescription medications are safer than street drugs.

Know! The Facts: ADHD medications can be dangerous, addictive and deadly.

Know! The Signs of Use/Abuse: Nervousness, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, skin rashes, itching, stomach pain and weight loss.

As with any prescription or over-the-counter medication, if you or your child are taking an ADHD medication, always keep it locked up and monitor its quantity.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center: Abuse By Teens Rises Along With Prescriptions For ADHD Medication. August, 2009. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Ritalin. 2009.