Posted by katekite on May 16, 2002, at 10:24:56
In reply to Re: Adderall help, posted by DiscoPuppy on May 14, 2002, at 18:16:05
While I agree it sounds risky to prescribe drugs to previous drug abusers, many people abuse drugs for a reason. (depression, anxiety, ADD)
For example, 15% of cocaine users are reported to experience a slowing calming effect from it, not the energizing effect most people are seeking. The theory is maybe these 15% have ADD and are self medicating. If one took a sample of the general population and gave them coke, far less than 15% would be calmed, most would get speedy...so this translates that people with ADD are more likely to chronically use cocaine. (The issue is a little hard to research since you can't just experiment with cocaine, but that's the theory).
Think, if you can get that 15% on a safer alternative like adderall you would be actually treating them -- and removing 15% of the druggie population.
Another study has shown that kids medicated for their ADD with a prescription stimulant are actually less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol later in life, than those who were identified at the same age but never medicated..... the theory there is maybe the frustration and secondary problems that go along with untreated ADD lead to self medication.
I take ritalin for ADD and had never tried coke, am not an addict in any way. However, had I known coke might calm me down instead of speed me up I might well have tried it had ritalin not been available!
I think its a mistake to label people abusers and therefore deny them medication that might help them.
kate
poster:katekite
thread:83085
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/106638.html