Drugs being given to enhance academics

Throughout New York and the rest of the United States, there has been a trend of students using stimulant drugs, originally meant for those suffering with attention deficit disorder, or ADHD, to help them to study better. The American Academy of Neurology has issued warnings to physicians about this practice since 2009. The practice is called "neuroenhancement," and it is quite dangerous as it could lead to cardiovascular problems, such as premature strokes or heart attacks, for the children.

The group has evaluated many studies regarding the use of stimulants and has found that the practice is dangerous for young people. Physicians who prescribe drugs such as Adderall to healthy people desiring to enhance their learning capacity could be committing medical malpractice, which makes the physicians liable should their patients become injured or die from cardiovascular failure.

The head of the study states that these drugs are prevalent and available on the streets to everyone. He has also come out with the opinion that there is no justification for a doctor to prescribe these drugs to healthy patients. These drugs have proved helpful for the condition of ADHD. Now, it appears that students are pretending to have ADHD in order to receive drugs. A few physicians have even given in to requests from students and parents and have allegedly written prescriptions for these drugs to enhance school performance.

Patients can be seriously injured by drugs that are not prescribed for the correct condition. Those in New York who were injured by severe side effects of drugs that have been incorrectly prescribed may seek compensation with the help of personal injury attorneys who may clarify their rights and options and recommend courses of action.

SOURCE: Amednews.com, "Neurologists warn of prescribing stimulants to youths seeking better grades," Christine S. Moyer, March 18, 2013