Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 1 in 4 adults using prescription stimulants engaged in misuse, and nearly 1 in 10 met the criteria for prescription stimulant use disorder (PSUD).

Findings show that amphetamine users were more likely to experience PSUD than those prescribed methylphenidate. Increased prescribing rates, particularly among middle-aged women, were observed, yet this demographic exhibited lower misuse rates than younger adults.

Concerns over stimulant misuse have grown as prescribing rates for these medications, commonly used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), have increased. Clinical practice guidelines for adult ADHD remain absent, leading to variations in diagnosis and treatment. Questions about appropriate use persist as research indicates both the protective benefits of ADHD pharmacotherapy and its potential risks, including misuse, overprescription, and development of use disorders.