2 weeks Ago
Each year, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW Sydney surveys hundreds of people who regularly use drugs in Australia to understand trends in substance use around the country. Today, we've released the 2024 report, which canvassed 740 people from Australian capital cities who regularly use ecstasy or other illicit stimulants. While the focus of this research is largely on illegal drugs and markets, we also monitor trends in the use of pharmaceutical stimulants, such as ADHD drugs, without a prescription.
This year, 54% of the people we spoke to had used pharmaceutical stimulants in the previous six months when it was not prescribed to them. This was the highest percentage we've seen since we started asking people about this type of drug use in 2007. What are pharmaceutical stimulants? Pharmaceutical stimulants include the drug methylphenidate (brand names Concerta and Ritalin), as well as dexamphetamine and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse).
These medicines are commonly prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a chronic neurological disorder that causes excessive sleepiness and sudden bouts of sleep during the day. These medications work in different ways depending on the type. But they treat ADHD by increasing the levels of important chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain, including dopamine and noradrenaline.
However, as with many pharmaceutical substances, people also use these stimulants when they're not prescribed them. There are a range of reasons someone might choose to use these medicines without a prescription. Studies of university students have shown these substances are often used to increase alertness, concentration and memory.
Studies among broader populations have shown they may also be used to experiment, or to get high. Worldwide, including in Australia, there have been notable increases in the prescribing of ADHD medications in recent..
..
