Quick summary
Prescription stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and Dexedrine are Schedule II medications for ADHD and narcolepsy. In 2023 an estimated 3.9 million Americans aged 12 or older misused them, most often to concentrate or stay awake. There is no FDA-approved medication for stimulant use disorder, but contingency management, CBT, and other behavioral treatments are supported by strong evidence.
Prescription stimulants are Schedule II medications - Adderall, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Concerta, and similar drugs - that doctors prescribe for ADHD and narcolepsy. They work well when taken as directed, but misusing them can raise blood pressure, damage sleep, and lead to addiction. An estimated 3.9 million Americans misused them in 2023, and behavioral treatment is the proven way back.
What these drugs are
Two chemical families cover most prescriptions. Amphetamine products include mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine). Methylphenidate products include Ritalin and its extended-release counterpart Concerta. All are classified Schedule II because they have accepted medical uses and a high potential for abuse. In the brain, they act on dopamine - which drives the urge to repeat the drug - and norepinephrine, which prepares the body for action.
For people with ADHD, prescribed stimulants increase attention and reduce impulsiveness and hyperactivity. For people without those conditions, the evidence does not show lasting academic or cognitive gains.
The national picture, in numbers
SAMHSA's 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 3.9 million Americans aged 12 and older misused prescription stimulants in the past year - about 1.4%. The long trend among young adults is downward: past-year misuse at ages 18 to 25 fell from 7.5% in 2016 to 3.1% in 2023. Among adults aged 19 to 30, past-year Adderall misuse dropped from 7.8% in 2022 to 3.7% in 2023.
Motivations are mostly everyday: 36.1% said their most recent misuse was to help concentrate, 29.3% to be alert or stay awake, and 11.0% to help study; 16.1% reported getting high, countering other drug effects, or experimenting. More than half of people who misuse get the pills free from friends or relatives.
A nationally representative study of adults aged 18 to 64 who use prescription stimulants found 25.3% reported past-year misuse and 9.0% met criteria for prescription stimulant use disorder - and notably, 72.9% of those with the disorder used only their own prescribed medication, not diverted pills.
Why misuse is dangerous
Stimulant misuse raises blood pressure and heart rate, increases body temperature, disrupts sleep, and can trigger anger, paranoia, or psychotic symptoms. High doses or non-oral routes such as snorting or injection multiply the danger; the FDA boxed warning on amphetamine products links misuse to sudden death and serious cardiovascular events. Naloxone does not reverse a stimulant overdose - call 911 for an unresponsive person, chest pain, seizure, or severe overheating. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
What stimulant use disorder looks like
Signs include escalating doses, unsuccessful attempts to cut back, continuing use despite problems, and a crash of fatigue, low mood, and cravings when the drug stops. The survey data show most people with the disorder are mildly affected and many never misused at all - heavy dependence is not a prerequisite for needing help.
How treatment works
Because no FDA-approved medication exists for stimulant use disorder, care is behavioral. SAMHSA's national treatment protocol identifies:
- Contingency management - reinforcing verified abstinence and treatment attendance with incentives; the intervention with the strongest evidence.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy - skills for cravings, refusal, and relapse prevention.
- Community reinforcement - rebuilding work, relationships, and routines that make recovery rewarding.
- Motivational interviewing - resolving ambivalence and strengthening commitment.
Case management ties the pieces together, and level of care - outpatient, intensive outpatient, or residential - is matched to each person's needs.
Call or text (800) 653-9376 or use the form below to explore options.
SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and the FindTreatment.gov locator are free, confidential starting points available any time.
Last updated: Sun Oct 04 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
What are prescription stimulants?
They are Schedule II medications - including amphetamine products like Adderall and Dexedrine and methylphenidate products like Ritalin and Concerta - that the FDA approves to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. They act on dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
How many people misuse prescription stimulants?
SAMHSA's 2023 survey estimated about 1.4% of Americans aged 12 and older - roughly 3.9 million people - misused prescription stimulants in the past year. Misuse among young adults aged 18 to 25 fell from 7.5% in 2016 to 3.1% in 2023.
Why do people misuse them?
The most common reasons in the 2023 survey were to help concentrate (36.1%), be alert or stay awake (29.3%), help study (11.0%), get high or experiment (16.1%), and lose weight (3.9%).
Is there a medication to treat stimulant use disorder?
No FDA-approved medication exists for stimulant use disorder, according to SAMHSA's Treatment Improvement Protocol. Contingency management has the most scientific support, followed by cognitive-behavioral therapy, community reinforcement, and motivational interviewing.
Does naloxone reverse a stimulant overdose?
No. Federal guidance is clear that naloxone does not reverse stimulant overdose. Call 911 immediately if someone is unresponsive, has chest pain, seizures, or dangerous overheating. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.