The prescription drug Adderall is used to treat narcolepsy and hyperactivity, but people who struggle with eating disorders have begun using the drug for weight loss. This type of misuse is dangerous - and potentially deadly.

"While it is a stimulant, it has a calming effect on patients. But if abused, it can raise blood pressure and heart rate - which can be fatal."

Dr. Mary Tantillo, director of the Eating Disorder Center at the University of Rochester, has seen this type of drug abuse in her patients. Taken in high doses, Adderall has effects similar to cocaine, with the same potential for lethal overdoses. Source: WHAM Channel 13 News (NY)

Labels: abuse, adhd, drugs

A new study conducted through the University of Virginia has found that girls with ADHD are more likely than their non-ADHD counterparts to develop the bulimia-related behaviors of binge eating and purging.

"'Girls with ADHD may be more at risk of developing eating problems as adolescents because they already have impulsive behaviors that can set them apart from their peers,' [psychologist Amori Yee] Mikami said. 'As they get older, their impulsivity may make it difficult for them to maintain healthy eating and a healthy weight, resulting in self-consciousness about their body image and the binging and purging symptoms.'"

This is one of the few studies that have focused on ADHD's possible long-term effects on girls. Mikami, the study's lead author, warned parents and teachers to be watching for "female-relevant" issues that may be more prevalent in girls with ADHD. Read more at RedOrbit.com.

Learn more about girls and ADHD with the Giving Girls the Attention They Need
What Parents Need to Know About Girls and ADD/ADHD primer.

Labels: adhd, girls, risks