David Korda
Abnormal Psychology
Extra Credit

The Medicated Generation: Adderall

In our generation more and more doctors are turning to drugs, or medication, as treatment for various psychological disorders, especially in children and teenagers. Take for example the drug Adderall, a powerful and addictive stimulant prescribed to adults, children and teenagers, who suffer from ADD or ADHD. However, while this drug is available only via prescription it seems to me that half the collage students I know have this medication. Adderall is no joke; it can be a dangerously addictive substance and lead to tragedy, like the story of Richard Fee.
An article in the New York Times (By Alan Swartz, Published: February 2, 2013) titled: “Drown in a Stream of Prescriptions”, tells the story of Richard Fee’s death. The 24-year old, was described as likeable and popular, was the class president, and was on his way to becoming a doctor. He had a severe addiction to Adderall that was heavily fueled by his prescribing doctors. Both family and friends agreed Richard did not really need the drug, because he had adequate grades his whole life, and he was clearly abusing the drug, they say his personality noticeably changed. Friends also reported Richard as very intelligent man who would lie to doctor after doctor. Richard’s mother told him he was getting dangerously addicted to Adderall, and once Richard’s father stormed into the doctor’s office telling the doctor, ”You’re going to kill him.” After becoming violently delusional and spending a week in a psychiatric hospital in 2011, he was prescribed another ninety pills. Two weeks after the prescription ended he hung himself. On a lighter note, the other day, a friend of mine was telling me how his doctor also hastily pushed him into a prescription. He told his doctor he had trouble focusing on his schoolwork, and without recommending therapy or any other type of remedy the doctor told him Adderall would solve his problems. I know this guy, and he’s a fully capable and competent person. In my opinion he does not have real ADHD, he just wants a boost for doing dull and tedious schoolwork, and would benefit more from therapy.
Some people really need Adderall but others just seem to get it as an advantage to do schoolwork and the easygoing mentality of doctors to give out these pills is shocking and irresponsible. The story of Richard Gee, while rare in nature, represents a widespread failing of American medicine. Adderall is a seriously addicting drug that can carry severe psychological symptoms. Its recent availability is due to doctors, “skipping established diagnostic material, renewing prescriptions reflexively, and spending too little time with patients to accurately monitor side-effects”. A psychiatrist in Virginia, Dr. Charles Parker sums it up, “We have a significant travesty being done in this country with how the diagnosis is being made and the meds are being administered. I think it’s an abnegation of trust. The public