Law enforcement and healthcare providers nationwide are working to combat a potential amphetamine crisis before it claims more lives.
Across Alabama, there is evidence that people are becoming addicted to prescription and street versions of amphetamine, including the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication Adderall and its generic forms.
In a recent review, the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner's Office revealed 29 deaths this year in which Adderall was either reported by the family as a drug that the decedent would use or Adderall was present at the scene.
Since methamphetamine differs chemically, medical examiners can distinguish meth from pure Adderall in post-mortem testing, Coroner Bill Yates explained.
Upon further investigation, Yates said amphetamine was detected in the blood of 20 of those 29 deaths. Methamphetamine was also present in six of those 20 cases. Yates said this suggests that the amphetamine detected in the other 14 cases may have been Adderall.
"In the 29 cases, amphetamine without methamphetamine played some role in death in seven cases," Yates said.
In fact, Yates said one of those deaths may have been caused by Adderall alone. The family of that person reported their loved one was addicted to Adderall.
Other drugs were detected in the systems of the other six decedents.
"In the histories of the 29 cases, one person appeared to have a prescription for Adderall and to be using it as directed," Yates explained. "Another seven individuals may have had a prescription, but their lifestyle was one of misusing drugs and medications. The remaining 21 individuals were described as misusing or abusing Adderall by friends or relatives."
Yates added the person who was taking Adderall as directed died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Those diagnosed with ADHD have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, and some ADHD medications have been shown to increase that risk, according to a Canadian study.
While Adderall and other ADHD medications can be helpful to those who need them, experts in Alabama suggest prescribers pay close attention to patients and their actions while taking those medications.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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