Adderall for all

Perhaps it is in the nature of Attention Deficit Disorder that its diagnosis is difficult to confirm or deny. Since it is a behavioral problem, its symptoms are described, rather than confirmed through blood tests. A combination of zealous doctors and impatient parents contributes to the drugs' saturation of young American society. I am in no way trying to discredit the validity or seriousness of the disorder, as there are people who benefit greatly from medication. I do believe, however, that many children are unnecessarily taking the drug. Regardless of my feelings on Adderall, the drug is an interesting topic with respect to media.

What I find so interesting about Adderall as it relates to Media is that the drug is the leading of its kind. The brand "Adderall" was not introduced until 1996 and unlike prescription drugs intended for use to treat problems such as high blood pressure/cholesterol, depression or osteoporosis, Adderall does not advertise through popular media outlets. The companies behind Lipitor, Zoloft, Boniva, Valtrex, etc. all pour hundreds of dollars into advertisements: tv spots, print ads, online pop-ups. Adderall, on the other hand, is advertised through primary or secondary sources - either by doctors themselves, or parents of children who are on the drug. I don't know a lot about the prescription drug industry, but I suspect the reason many drugs are advertised is because of competition. While I could name at least three medications for high blood pressure, I could only name one drug for ADD: Adderall.

In recent years, the drug has carved a whole new market amongst college students looking for an academic edge. Even in people without difficulty focusing on a regular basis, Adderall can improve concentration. Where many drugs have negative effects (or none at all) when consumed by people not suffering from the disorder they are intended to treat, Adderall is fairly mild. In addition to inducing unnatural focus, the drug is known to decrease appetite. This, of course, appeals to an entirely different (an enormous) market: people looking to loose weight. I've posted the url below for an article posted on CNN.com that discusses the appeal of the drug as a dietary supplement:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/03/21/vs.adderall/index.html

It'll be interesting to follow this drug - I wonder if it will become so common that a weaker version will be available over the counter in the future...