Adderall Efficacy with Age Disparity in Adhd-Diagnosed Individuals

Running head: ADDERALL EFFICACY WITH AGE DISPARITY

Adderall Efficacy with Age Disparity in ADHD-Diagnosed Individuals

Shane M. Felten

Grand Valley State University

Adderall Efficacy with Age Disparity in ADHD-Diagnosed Individuals

In the last few decades it has become clear just how common Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is among populations. It is estimated that between two to sixteen percent of school-aged children alone have been diagnosed with ADHD (Rader, McCauley, & Callen, 2009). Some individuals are diagnosed early in life when signs of ADHD present themselves, while others may not experience any symptoms until later into adulthood when they are diagnosed. Many college students are an example of the latter, as they begin to experience more symptoms of ADHD after entering college than they ever have in the past; the general consensus of these students is that they believe it is likely due to the increased amount of stress and responsibility that they have taken on as full-time college students. The most common drugs typically prescribed as treatment for individuals with ADHD are Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin. Adderall is the most prescribed of these and has also become one of the most prescribed drugs in the pharmaceutical industry over the last few years. For these reasons, the present study will examine Adderall.

Adderall is comprised of a mixture of amphetamine salts: dextroamphetamine sulfate, levoamphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine aspartate, levoamphetamine aspartate, and dextroamphetamine saccharate (Spencer et al., 2001). Much research has already been done to test the effectiveness of Adderall. Beiderman, Lopez, Boellner, and Chandler (2002) showed in their study that the administration of the treatment in children aged six to twelve helped greatly to eliminate symptoms of ADHD compared to the placebo. A study of effectiveness and long-term safety of Adderall treatment in adults with ADHD produced similar...