Warning About 'ADHD Medication' Disguised as Study Enhancers

On the 3rd, a 'drug beverage' incident occurred in the academy district of Gangnam, Seoul. The beverage consumed by two victim students drew attention as it was labeled with phrases such as 'memory enhancement, concentration improvement' and 'Mega ADHD.'

The victims are presumed to have consumed the drug beverage believing that ADHD medication enhances concentration. In fact, some examinees and job seekers are reported to obtain and take attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication to improve their performance. However, misuse of these drugs by individuals without ADHD can cause serious side effects.

Bottles of drinks handed over by the suspects to the victims. [Image source=Seoul Gangnam Police Station]

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ADHD is one of the psychiatric disorders commonly observed in children and adolescents. The exact cause of ADHD is not yet known. However, the medical community estimates that it occurs because neurotransmitters responsible for attention and concentration functions, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, are not properly regulated in the brain in a timely manner.

Children with ADHD exhibit tendencies such as ▲lack of attention, ▲hyperactivity, and ▲inability to control impulsive behavior. These issues often lead to lower academic achievement.

ADHD medications are prescribed to patients diagnosed with ADHD and work by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters to improve symptoms. Methylphenidate is a representative example.

Many reviews of ADHD medication prescriptions are posted on YouTube, SNS, and other platforms. While some actual patients report symptom relief after taking the medication, there are also cases where the general public uses it as a 'concentration enhancer.' [Image source=YouTube]

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ADHD medications are classified as psychotropic drugs. This means that misuse can cause serious harm to the human body. Therefore, only patients diagnosed with ADHD should take them under professional guidance. The problem is that among some students, ADHD medication has been misrepresented as a 'study-enhancing drug.'

Searching for 'ADHD medication' on social networking services (SNS) and YouTube easily reveals 'ADHD medication reviews.' While some content shows that actual ADHD patients experienced symptom improvement after taking the medication, there are also claims that general individuals can use ADHD medication as a 'concentration-enhancing drug.' One netizen shared a 'tip,' saying, "Since it is a drug with side effects, just take it the day before exams or interviews."

According to data obtained by Assemblywoman Shin Hyun-young of the Democratic Party from the National Health Insurance Service in October last year, ADHD medication prescriptions in Seoul were concentrated in the three Gangnam districts (Gangnam, Songpa, Seocho) and Nowon District, where academies are densely located. Assemblywoman Shin expressed concern, stating, "Taking ADHD treatment medication reduces hyperactivity and impulsivity. There was a time when ADHD medication was misrepresented as a drug that enhances concentration, especially in the education-driven Gangnam three districts."

During the drug beverage incident in the Gangnam academy district on the 3rd, the group handing out the drugs deceived students by labeling the beverage as 'Mega ADHD medication' and 'concentration enhancer.' Police investigations revealed that the group also attempted tastings targeting students at a nearby middle school. The fact that suspicious beverages were packaged as ADHD medication for tasting events suggests that ADHD medication might be familiar among students in the academy district.

ADHD medication Ritalin [Photo by Yonhap News]

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The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) warns that taking ADHD medication without an ADHD diagnosis can cause serious side effects.

The MFDS's Integrated Drug Information System emphasizes in the 'Drug Safety Use Manual' that "In children whose academic achievement improved after taking ADHD medication, the improvement was not because of the medication itself but because the treatment alleviated attention deficit symptoms, thereby enhancing learning ability." In other words, ADHD medication does not increase a student's attention but improves attention by alleviating the disorder in ADHD patients.

On the contrary, if a normal individual misuses ADHD treatment drugs, it can cause symptoms ranging from headaches and anxiety to, rarely, psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, aggression, hostility, behaviors related to extreme choices, and cardiovascular side effects leading to sudden death.

Most importantly, methylphenidate, the main ingredient in ADHD medication, is a psychotropic drug designated by the government. While it can help ADHD patients with impaired neurotransmitter regulation, it poses a risk of psychological dependence when taken by individuals without ADHD.

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