The misuse by young people in the United States of drugs to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has risen by more than 75% in eight years, a study indicates.

Researchers at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, who made the discovery, called on prescribers and parents to be aware of the potential for the drugs to be misused (Pediatrics doi:10.1542/peds.2008-0931).

They analysed the American Association of Poison Control Center’s national poison data system for the years 1998 to 2005, looking at all cases involving 13-19 year olds who intentionally misused ADHD drugs. These drugs often include mixed …