ADHD Medication ER Visits On Rise

According to a new report, emergency room visits tied to a medication you may be giving your kids are on the rise. According to the new report from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, visits to the ER involving medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have increased 50-percent over a five-year period.

Mondale Bailey says he was an incredibly hyperactive child.

"It was like you gave us ten things of candy when we really ain't had nothing," said Bailey.

At age nine, Bailey says his mom took him and his twin brother to a doctor to get a diagnosis.

"He prescribed us Ritalin and it calmed us down and it actually made us more focused on our school work and stuff like that," said Bailey.

"If you don't have ADHD they are very habit forming, they are very addicting," said Dr. William Banner.

The Managing Director of Oklahoma's Poison Control Center, Dr. William Banner says medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, like Ritalin and Adderall are safe if prescribed by a doctor for the right reason.

"It settles them down and helps them concentrate," said Dr. Banner.

But if used recreationally, Banner says the drugs could cause severe health problems.

"If you're not somebody with ADHD, it will raise your blood pressure and you can have seizure activity, convulsions and things like that and you can also have lethal increases in your heart rate, blood pressure and temperature," said Dr. Banner.

According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, ER visits involving ADHD medications are up across the country. In 2005 there were around 13,000 visits to the ER that involved ADHD medications. Five years later, that number more than doubled to more than 31,000 visits.

"It's not a surprise," said Amy Simpson.

Amy Simpson is a mental health and substance abuse counselor. .She says she is not alarmed by the new date regarding ADHD medications.

"Since they're a molecule away from meth and we have a nation full of addicts, it's just there," said Simpson. "It's already made. It's just an easy way to get high."

If you ever have questions about a medication's safety or side effects, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. They have nurses and pharmacists available 24 hours per day.

MARISA MENDELSON
FOX 25 
MLMENDELSON@OKCFOX.COMADHD Medication ER Visits On Rise

Posted: Wednesday, January 30 2013, 10:24 PM CST