Ministry advises against unverified ADHD drugs

The food safety ministry said many students have allegedly taken drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), symptoms of which appear before a person is 12 years old and are present for more than six months.

ADHD is characterized by short attention span, excessive activity or difficulty controlling behavior, resulting in, in some cases, poor school performance.

“We have received reports saying high school students are taking the drugs on the unverified information that it improves attention and better focus for studying ahead of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT),” it said.

The ministry said it strongly advises against doing so, given the side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia and loss of appetite.

In extreme cases, children can experience hallucinations and devel- op schizophrenia. Some may even become violent.

“Before taking the drugs, people should have a thorough consultation with doctors and pharmacists to avoid side effects,” the ministry said.

The cause of most ADHD cases is unknown and is believed to involve interactions between genetics, the environment and social factors. Certain cases are related to a previous infection of or trauma to the brain.