Adolescent Patient Education Regarding ADHD Stimulant Diversion And Misuse.
Recent studies report that adolescents misuse and divert ADHD stimulants. This study evaluates the extent to which physicians educate adolescents with ADHD about stimulant misuse and diversion (M/D).



Child/adolescent psychiatrists (CAP), child neurologists (CN), and developmental-behavioral pediatricians (DBP) in the US completed a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed on the final sample (n=826); multivariate regressions were performed to identify education practice differences.



Only 46% and 44% of physicians educate patients "often" or "very often" on health risks and legal consequences, respectively, of stimulant M/D. CAP are more likely to educate on health and legal consequences than CN, and more likely to educate on legal consequences than DBP. Compared to physicians who prescribe stimulants to 1-10 patients (low prescribers), medium prescribers (11-30 patients) and high prescribers (30+ patients) are more likely to educate about M/D. 60% of physicians counsel patients at least "often" about M/D in a pre-college appointment; 8% have written materials regarding M/D available.



Many physcians currently don't educate adolescent patients with ADHD often enough about M/D. CN and DBP, and low prescribers, are less likely to educate about M/D.



Physicians who prescribe stimulants must educate patients more often to prevent stimulant M/D.
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park, USA. Electronic address: nataliecolaneri@gmail.com.
Natalie
N
Colaneri
Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, USA. Electronic address: sarah.keim@nationwidechildrens.org.
Sarah
S
Keim
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park, USA. Electronic address: aadesman@northwell.edu.
Andrew
A
Adesman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D000072143:Pediatricians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D064226:Prescription Drug Diversion / Q000517:prevention & control*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D055553:Prescription Drugs
ADHD; Adolescents; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Patient education; Prescription drugs; Stimulant diversion