A recent study found that in the long run ADHD prescription drugs are ineffective at best and, at worst, have negatively affects classroom abilities. This long-term research, published in February 2010, casts considerable mistrust on the positive factors of applying stimulant prescription medication to treat ADHD children.

Researchers at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Australia monitored 131 boys and girls and found that stimulant ADHD prescription drugs like as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall do not necessarily improve social or emotional well-being and actually harmed academic functioning.

In fact, using stimulant medications was found to substantially step-up the possibility of being identified as performing under age-level by a teacher. Kids who used stimulant medicines for ADHD were more than 10 times likely to be identified as performing below age-level when when compared to ADHD children who never used stimulant medication.

Scientists observed no substantial differences in depression, self-perception, and social-functioning based on medication-use at 14 years of age. Researchers noted a slight (but not statistically considerable) increase in depression and reduce in self-esteem in the 14-year-olds who had been treated with stimulant ADHD medicine. If you are considering the use of prescription medications for ADHD, just know that in the long-run, these drugs might not give your child a leg up.

Because of Adderall’s ability to enhance performance as well as energy levels it has been increasingly abused by many athletes across the world. Adderall has even become popular with many Major League Baseball players such as Jason Kendall. Jason admitted to the using Adderall to improve his game. Although this drug has been shown to boost performance, Adderall not safe especially for athletes when you take into consideration it’s negative side effects to the cardiovascular system.