In contrast to growing concerns about stimulant overprescription, a new study from the University of Michigan reveals that nonmedical use of ADHD medications among U.S. adolescents has significantly decreased over the past two decades.
While the rate of prescribed stimulant use for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among teens rose modestly between 2005 and 2023, the prevalence of nonmedical use—often referred to as misuse—dropped even more sharply.
“This is exactly the trend parents hope to see,” said lead researcher Dr. Sean Esteban McCabe.
The study addresses a longstanding concern: whether increased medical availability of ADHD stimulants might lead to higher misuse rates. According to the research, that worry may be overstated.
Using data from 2005 to 2023, the team analyzed responses from 19 cohorts of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders as part of the Monitoring the Future Study—an annual survey conducted by the University of Michigan that tracks substance use and related behaviors among American youth.
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the findings show that lifetime nonmedical use of prescription stimulants dropped from 10% in 2005 to 6% in 2023. Meanwhile, lifetime medical use remained relatively stable at around 8% during the same period.
“In simple terms, we’re seeing a steady pattern of medical use, with a notable decline in misuse,” said co-author Dr. Philip Veliz. “The feared rise in teen misuse of ADHD medications doesn’t appear to be materializing based on these long-term trends.”
The decline mirrors broader reductions in adolescent misuse of other prescription drugs, including opioids and benzodiazepines. Veliz suggests this may be due to a combination of improved public health messaging, more cautious prescribing practices, and ongoing stimulant medication shortages.
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