Prescription medications are abused by millions of Americans every year. Name brand prescription medications are used to artificially stimulate the nervous system or deal with the stresses of everyday life. The improper use or distribution of a prescription stimulant medication is a felony offense.
Prescription Stimulants
Not only has it become relatively easy to obtain a prescription for stimulant medications, these popular drugs are now widely available for casual use. Medications that were designed to treat medical conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are routinely abused by young adults throughout the United States. When properly prescribed by a licensed physician, ADHD medications can have a calming influence on individuals that are experiencing difficulty learning or focusing. Unfortunately, many young people, especially students, are relying on stimulant medication drugs to obtain a jolt of focused energy and artificially induced purpose.
The number of Americans that are addicted to prescription medications has increased dramatically in recent years. There has also been a significant rise in the number of emergency room visits related to the abuse of prescription stimulant medications. The use of stimulant medications without a prescription has alarmed public health officials since the vast majority of cases involve the use of prescription stimulants in combination with alcohol, painkillers or sleep medications. An overdose of prescription stimulant medications can present many of the same symptoms as a cocaine overdose. The following symptoms are often encountered by emergency room personnel:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiety
Stimulant Medication Prescriptions
The number of stimulant medication prescriptions issued to young adults more than doubled between the years of 2007 and 2011. Prescription medications are regularly prescribed to control the symptoms of ADHD. ADHD is characterized by a tendency to become easily distracted or engage in impulsive behaviors. Brand name amphetamine drugs like Vyvanse and Adderal and methylphenidates such as Foclin and Ritalin are frequently prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADHD.
Using or distributing stimulant medications illegally is a felony offense. These medications are especially popular among high school and college students. Students employ these powerful and widely available stimulant medications to focus in class and cram for tests. Stimulants are also used as an effective means of losing weight or artificially stimulating the release of dopamine in the brain to get high. Prescription stimulant medications are even snorted and injected to induce an artificial rush.
Obtaining a prescription for a stimulant medication can be as easy as filling out a questionnaire at a local medical clinic. Most ADHD cases are diagnosed in young children, usually around the age of seven, so prescribing stimulant medications to young adults is somewhat troubling. Prescription stimulant medications like Adderal are categorized as Class II drugs by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with cocaine and other illicit drugs.
If you have been accused of a drug related crime, then you need legal guidance. Get on the phone and contact The Law Office of Matthew D. Sharp today.
