High School Athletes & Future Prescription Stimulant Abuse

Prescription stimulants are drugs prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Some people, especially young people, abuse these drugs to boost energy, concentration, and alertness. 

According to a recent study, high school athletes are much more likely than non-athletes to abuse prescription stimulants once they become young adults.

This type of substance abuse can lead to serious health problems, including drug addiction (also called substance use disorder).

High School Prescription Drug Abuse

A 2022 University of Michigan study found that about 31% of high school seniors abused prescription drugs at least once between ages 17 and 18. 

Prescription drug abuse occurs when someone uses a prescription drug in a manner not prescribed by a doctor. For example, they might:

• take it more often than prescribed
• take higher doses than prescribed
• take it without a prescription 

The study examined whether student athletes face a greater risk of prescription drug abuse after graduation than non-athletes. 

High School Athletes & Future Prescription Stimulant Abuse

The University of Michigan study found that high school seniors who play contact sports (such as football, hockey, and wrestling) are about 50% more likely to abuse prescription stimulants in their 20s compared to high school seniors who do not play those sports.

In addition, the researchers found that seniors who play non-contact sports (such as tennis, volleyball, and gymnastics) are more likely to abuse prescription stimulants (such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta) than seniors who play no sports at all. 

Also, surprisingly, seniors who play non-contact sports are less likely to abuse prescription opioid painkillers (such as Vicodin and OxyContin) than non-athletes. 

The study used data from 4,772 American high school students between 2006 and 2017. In response to the findings, researchers have recommended that high school athletes get regularly screened for drug misuse. 

Why Are High School Athletes More Likely To Abuse Prescription Stimulants?

Researchers don’t know why high school sports participation increases the risk of prescription stimulant misuse in young adulthood. 

However, it might be because some young athletes abuse performance-enhancing drugs, and prescription stimulants can boost athletic performance. Some young people also misuse prescription stimulants to boost their academic performance. 

Risks Of Prescription Stimulant Misuse 

No matter why you do it, misusing prescription stimulants poses serious health risks, including increased side effects, overdose, and addiction.

Increased Side Effects

Like most prescription medications, prescription stimulants can have side effects. These effects may vary depending on your body and the specific stimulant you used.

The most common side effects of prescription stimulants include:

• nervousness 
• irritability
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• trouble sleeping
• headache
• dry mouth

Rarer, more serious side effects may include:

• depression
• hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there)
• delusions (holding beliefs that aren’t based in reality)
• itching, rash, or hives
• teeth grinding
• trouble speaking
• shortness of breath
• seizures

In general, people who abuse prescription stimulants are more likely to experience side effects than people who use the drugs as prescribed. 

Overdose

If you take a large amount of prescription stimulants, you may overdose.

The most common symptoms of a prescription stimulant overdose include:

• irritability
• sweating
• faster breathing
• faster heart rate
• high blood pressure
• increased body temperature
• chest pain
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, seek medical help right away. When left untreated, a stimulant overdose could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Addiction

Prescription stimulants can be highly addictive, especially if you abuse them. Addiction is a serious disease that makes you feel unable to control your drug use.

Common symptoms include:

• intense cravings for drugs
• loss of motivation
• loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
• avoidance of family and friends
• decline in personal hygiene 
• tolerance (needing increasingly larger or more frequent doses of a drug to feel the desired effects)

Another common symptom is physical dependence. That means your body starts relying on prescription stimulants to function. If you stop using them, you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms like depression, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. 

Like other diseases, addiction requires professional treatment. 

Treatment Options For Prescription Stimulant Abuse & Addiction

If you or someone you love struggles with prescription stimulant use, seek help at a drug abuse treatment program. These programs offer recovery-focused services such as:

• medical detox, in which doctors can help you stop using stimulants with minimal withdrawal symptoms
• cognitive behavioral therapy, in which a mental health professional can help you change unhelpful beliefs and actions related to your stimulant misuse
• contingency management, in which you receive rewards (such as cash or gift cards) when you pass drug tests or reach other recovery-related milestones
• support groups, in which you can discuss your experiences with other people recovering from drug abuse

To learn more about treatment options for prescription drug misuse, please reach out to an Ark Behavioral Health specialist. Our compassionate treatment providers offer personalized, evidence-based services to help you or your loved one stay drug-free.