Adderall and Other ADHD Drugs Driving Workplace Competition

To enhance productivity at work place, people across professions are using ADHD medication as stimulants.

The drug Adderall, an amphetamine stimulant, appears to be most abused as several reports have emerged describing clandestine use, propelled by black market dealers who obtain drugs by making excess purchases with a prescription. Usually prescribed for children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, users swear by it in helping them work longer hours and functioning more effectively.

The New York Times recently reported that people in several professions are misusing drugs like Adderall, Vyvanse and Concerta to boost attention and improve work performance. Many users got such drugs prescribed after fooling physiatrists they had ADHD. While there are no studies that show if such stimulants can boost performance, it is known that they improve motivation and attention which in turn could lead to improved performance at work.

It was also reported that supply of such stimulants in the markets have increased sharply as nearly 2.6 million adults received ADHD medication in 2012, 53 percent rise in four years.

When users began taking doses higher than recommended amounts, they began experience heart palpitations and anxiety worsened by sleep loss which affected work performance that they set out to boost.