Tweet
Adderall Addiction: Lessons from a Son's Suicide
By Lorie Johnson
CBN News Medical Reporter
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Fourteen million young people between the ages of 20 and 40 take the prescription drug Adderall, or one like it, to treat Attention Deficit Disorder.
Many who take it and even those who prescribe it believe it's helpful, or at least harmless.
But that's not always the case. For Richard Fee, his Adderall addiction led to his suicide.
'Adderall Destroyed Him'
Since childhood, Richard Fee lived a storybook life: straight-As, star athlete, lots of friends. Then he started taking Adderall.
His mother, Kathy Fee, said she hardly recognized her son when he was taking Adderall.
"It just changed his whole thought process," she recalled. "His mental process, his actions, the things that he did."
Over the course of three years, Richard's life spiraled out of control -- until his father found Richard hanging in his closet.
Through tears, Ricky Fee remembers that awful moment.
"Worst possible thing you can possibly imagine," he said. "I mean here was this great kid who had everything going for him. Everything. Smart, good-looking kid, and the Adderall just destroyed him."
Dangerous Felony
Adderall is prescribed for people with Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD. It works on the brain to help them focus.
But some people who don't have ADD believe Adderall helps them focus, too, and take it to help them study.
Richard appears to have been one of those. His father recalled a conversation when Richard was in college.
"Richard had mentioned to me that he had gotten an Adderall from one of his friends at exam time," he said.
Richard is not alone. An estimated one in five college students take Adderall, largely unaware of the physical danger and the legal danger. It's a felony to give your prescription to someone or use someone else's prescription.
Richard's sister Ryan, who is currently a college student, said there is no stigma associated with taking Adderall even if you don't have ADD.
In fact, she said students are open about it.
"You hear in the library, during exam week, people asking each other, 'I really need an Adderall pill,'" she said. "People do offer it to each other. It's not a big deal to people on campus."
Doctor Shopping Students
After getting Adderall from other students, Richard soon wanted his own supply.
Ricky Fee said the first time his son got a prescription was when he saw a doctor at college.
"If you go to a doctor and tell them you have the signs of ADD, without any checking, they'll just give you a prescription," he said. "And that's basically what he did."
By Lorie Johnson
CBN News Medical Reporter
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Fourteen million young people between the ages of 20 and 40 take the prescription drug Adderall, or one like it, to treat Attention Deficit Disorder.
Many who take it and even those who prescribe it believe it's helpful, or at least harmless.
But that's not always the case. For Richard Fee, his Adderall addiction led to his suicide.
'Adderall Destroyed Him'
Since childhood, Richard Fee lived a storybook life: straight-As, star athlete, lots of friends. Then he started taking Adderall.
His mother, Kathy Fee, said she hardly recognized her son when he was taking Adderall.
"It just changed his whole thought process," she recalled. "His mental process, his actions, the things that he did."
Over the course of three years, Richard's life spiraled out of control -- until his father found Richard hanging in his closet.
Through tears, Ricky Fee remembers that awful moment.
"Worst possible thing you can possibly imagine," he said. "I mean here was this great kid who had everything going for him. Everything. Smart, good-looking kid, and the Adderall just destroyed him."
Dangerous Felony
Adderall is prescribed for people with Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD. It works on the brain to help them focus.
But some people who don't have ADD believe Adderall helps them focus, too, and take it to help them study.
Richard appears to have been one of those. His father recalled a conversation when Richard was in college.
"Richard had mentioned to me that he had gotten an Adderall from one of his friends at exam time," he said.
Richard is not alone. An estimated one in five college students take Adderall, largely unaware of the physical danger and the legal danger. It's a felony to give your prescription to someone or use someone else's prescription.
Richard's sister Ryan, who is currently a college student, said there is no stigma associated with taking Adderall even if you don't have ADD.
In fact, she said students are open about it.
"You hear in the library, during exam week, people asking each other, 'I really need an Adderall pill,'" she said. "People do offer it to each other. It's not a big deal to people on campus."
Doctor Shopping Students
After getting Adderall from other students, Richard soon wanted his own supply.
Ricky Fee said the first time his son got a prescription was when he saw a doctor at college.
"If you go to a doctor and tell them you have the signs of ADD, without any checking, they'll just give you a prescription," he said. "And that's basically what he did."
CBN
Comment