NCJ Number
136474
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 30 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1991) Pages: 773-775
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This case report describes a 16-year-old male Caucasian with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who was a positive stimulant responder in childhood and subsequently developed alcohol and drug abuse that later included intranasal abuse of prescribed methylphenidate.
Abstract
The intent of this report is to alert physicians to the rare possibility of intranasal methylphenidate abuse in chemically dependent adolescents treated for ADHD and to the possibility of group methyphenidate abuse at special education schools where many adolescents may be treated with stimulant medication. The information reported in this case shows that the treatment of childhood ADHD with methylphenidate did not contribute to subsequent alcohol and drug abuse. The abuse and dependence on methylphenidate developed after alcohol and marijuana abuse had begun. The case data should not influence clinical decisions of the use of methylphenidate in ADHD children and adolescents who do not abuse alcohol or drugs. 9 references