Health
What to Know About Adderall, Ritalin and Other Prescription Stimulants
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has often criticized prescription stimulants, such as Adderall, that are primarily used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“We have damaged this entire generation,” he said last year during a podcast, referring to the number of children taking psychiatric medications. “We have poisoned them.”
In February, the “Make America Healthy Again” commission, led by Mr. Kennedy, announced plans to evaluate the “threat” posed by drugs like prescription stimulants.
But are they a threat? And if so, to whom?
Like many medications, prescription stimulants have potential side effects, and there are people who misuse them. Yet these drugs are also considered some of the most effective and well-researched treatments that psychiatry has to offer, said Dr. Jeffrey H. Newcorn, the director of the Division of A.D.H.D. and Learning Disorders at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
Here are some answers to common questions and concerns about stimulants.
What are prescription stimulants?
Prescription stimulants are drugs that help change the way the brain works by increasing the communication among neurons.
They are divided into two classes: methylphenidates (like Ritalin, Focalin and Concerta) and amphetamines (like Vyvanse and Adderall).
The drugs are most often prescribed to treat A.D.H.D., but they’re also used for conditions like narcolepsy or a binge eating disorder. Sometimes they are also used off-label, for treatment-resistant depression, or catatonia, a syndrome that can cause a patient to move in unusual ways, become immobile or stop talking.
The medications work by amplifying the activity of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the nerve cells of the brain. Dopamine plays a role in creating the desire for something and the motivation to get it, while norepinephrine can increase alertness and make it easier to focus.
People with A.D.H.D. may have a deficit of both of these chemicals, so when they use stimulants it essentially helps “even them out,” said Dr. Anthony L. Rostain, chairman of the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Cooper University Health Care, which is based in Camden, N.J.
For some users, the effects are profound. “It’s like glasses for poor vision,” Dr. Rostain said.
Are stimulants always used to treat A.D.H.D.?
No.
Not everyone who has been diagnosed with A.D.H.D. takes stimulants. There are also non-stimulant medications, like Strattera (atomoxetine). And some people don’t require any medication at all.
Other interventions, such as behavioral therapy, parent training, school supports, and lifestyle changes to regulate sleep and exercise, are important — regardless of whether someone needs medication or not.
How many people are taking them?
The use of prescription stimulants has been on the rise since 2012, particularly among adults, and has sharply increased in recent years among women as well as patients ages 20 to 39.
In 2023, an estimated 6 percent of adults had a current diagnosis of A.D.H.D. and about one-third of those patients reported taking prescription stimulant medication, according to an analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In children and adolescents, however, the number of stimulant prescriptions has been more stable in recent decades.
Overall, it is estimated that about 5 percent of children in the U.S. are currently prescribed medication for A.D.H.D. (Not 15 percent, the number stated by Mr. Kennedy during his confirmation hearing in January.)
A study published in February found that prescriptions actually declined among children after the pandemic began.
How often are prescription stimulants misused?
Government drug use surveys show that in 2022, among people 12 and older, 1.5 percent reported misusing prescription stimulants in the past year — taking the drugs without a doctor telling them to do so, or not in the manner they were prescribed. Sometimes people are aspiring to be more productive or to stay awake, but the drugs are also used recreationally, and can produce a high by swallowing, smoking or snorting the medication — or injecting it into the bloodstream.
Young adults ages 18 to 25 had the highest rates of misuse: 3.7 percent.
Among adolescents 12 to 17, the percentage of misuse was much smaller: 0.9 percent.
This number can vary depending on where they live: In some U.S. schools, as many as 1 in 4 high school students report misusing prescription stimulants, often motivated by their desire to perform better in school. Some schools report no issue with stimulant misuse.
What are the potential side effects?
Taking stimulants can cause elevated blood pressure and heart rate, a reduced appetite, difficulty sleeping, and restlessness or agitation.
Other common side effects include headaches, an increase in body temperature and abdominal pain.
Less frequently, stimulants have been known to temporarily slow a child’s growth, Dr. Rostain said, which is why they should have their height and weight monitored by a medical provider while they’re taking the drugs.
There is also a small risk of developing psychosis that may be tied to dosage. And when stimulants are misused, they can be addictive.
Patients and their doctors have to weigh the benefits of taking stimulants against these risks. A.D.H.D., particularly when left untreated, is associated with reckless behaviors like careless driving, unsafe sex, substance abuse and aggression. A recent study showed that people with the diagnosis are, on average, dying earlier than their peers — about seven years earlier for men, and about nine for women.
How long should stimulants be used?
It depends.
Studies have shown that A.D.H.D. symptoms can change over time, improving and then worsening again, or vice versa. “It’s not consistent,” Dr. Rostain said. “They wax and wane for many people.”
As a result, he added, people may end up using A.D.H.D. medications intermittently.
Still, some people take these drugs longer term, said Dr. Lenard A. Adler, the director of NYU Langone Health’s Adult A.D.H.D. Program.
“That being said, it’s always appropriate when someone is stable on psychostimulants to attempt to lower the dose,” Dr. Adler added.
If a patient continues to do well, he said, then it’s worth exploring whether the medication is still needed.
Is there still a medication shortage?
Yes.
The stimulant shortage that began in 2022 continues. According to the Food and Drug Administration, as of March, methylphenidate hydrochloride extended release tablets and patches, as well as other types of amphetamine tablets, are either unavailable or in short supply.
The availability of specific drugs and formulations can vary by region, Dr. Rostain said.
“It leads to a lot of uncertainty, unpredictability and a lot of anxiety on the part of patients,” he added.
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No sex for the win? This was the advice given to this year’s NBA champions.
New York Knicks owner James Dolan addressed the now-champs as they headed into the playoffs in April 2026, acknowledging their high potential to eventually win the championship.
“I don’t know if you understand what it would mean for you to win a championship this year … It would be life-changing,” he said. “It will stick with you the rest of your lives, and if you don’t win, you’ll be thinking about it the rest of your lives.”
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As Dolan’s inspirational speech to the team went on, he explained how the next 10 weeks would require each player to make sacrifices – watching their diets, getting proper sleep and perhaps even abstaining from sex.
“You need sacrifice and you need to eliminate all the distractions around you,” he said.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award trophy and Knicks owner James Dolan after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” the owner said. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks – but, like the Spartans … They denied themselves, so that they can have an edge. Get the edge.”
This received a few snickers from the team, and Dolan responded, “Don’t tell [your wives and girlfriends] you’re not going to have sex and don’t tell them it was my idea. But let them know what this is going to be like … and how they’re going to have to sacrifice, too.”
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Dr. Anna Elton, licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical sexologist in Massachusetts, confirmed that this belief has been around for centuries, dating back to the ancients Spartans and early Olympic competitors.
Avoiding sex can preserve energy, increase aggression and sharpen focus, according to Elton.
The theory behind abstaining from sex for better athletic performance supports that it can preserve energy, increase aggression and sharpen focus. (iStock)
But modern research has found little evidence that consensual sexual activity negatively impacts strength, endurance, reaction time or athletic performance when it occurs at least 10 hours before competition, the doctor countered.
However, “activity very close to competition may affect recovery measures,” she added. What may be more important, according to Elton, is the psychological value of abstinence.
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“Choosing to abstain can reinforce discipline and total commitment to a larger goal,” she said. “In those cases, the advantage may come more from mindset and focus than from any physical effect.”
“Whether the sacrifice is alcohol, social activities, favorite foods or sex, the message is often the same: ‘We are all in.’”
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson celebrates with teammates after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
The science of abstinence
This discussion has historically focused on men, which Elton said is often based on “misconceptions about testosterone and energy depletion.”
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“Research has not demonstrated that normal sexual activity causes a meaningful decline in athletic performance, and concerns about testosterone depletion have not been consistently supported by the evidence,” she said.
“For women, sexual activity may have additional benefits related to stress reduction, emotional regulation and relationship satisfaction.”
Abstaining from sex for athletic performance may create a sense of discipline, minimize distractions, maintain focus on training and reinforce a team culture centered on sacrifice and commitment, experts say. (iStock)
In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Anthony Puopolo, a men’s health expert and lead medical provider for RexMD, echoed Elton’s assessment that research largely does not support abstinence as a performance enhancer.
This is despite a small amount of evidence that suggests engaging in sexual activity within two hours of competition could pose a risk to cardiovascular recovery.
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“Unfortunately, nearly all studies (99%) have been conducted in males aged 20 to 40, so there is virtually no data on female athletes, older athletes or diverse populations,” said the Puerto Rico-based expert. “We know what to tell the Knicks, but we are not sure what to recommend for the New York Liberty.”
Importance of connection
Elton said abstinence may still offer psychological benefits for some competitors. “For some athletes, it can become part of a pre-competition ritual that enhances confidence,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Some other potential benefits of sexual activity include stress reduction, improved sleep, mood enhancement, emotional connection with a partner and relief from performance-related tension.
“Strong, supportive relationships are associated with better psychological resilience, which can be valuable during high-pressure competitions,” Elton said.
“One of the most overlooked performance advantages may be having a supportive relationship waiting at home,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Ultimately, there is no universal rule,” she went on. “What helps one athlete perform at their best may not help another.”
Elton stressed that sleep, recovery, nutrition, stress management and support from loved ones are universal performance boosters.
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“Athletes devote tremendous attention to training their bodies, while overlooking the importance of their personal relationships,” she cautioned. “A supportive partner can be one of the greatest assets during a demanding season.”
“If competition requires temporary sacrifices, make those decisions together and keep communication open.”
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Eliminating sugar from your diet may seem like the key to healthy eating, but research suggests it could have unintended effects on digestive health.
A study presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, suggests that a total lack of sucrose, or table sugar, may harm gut health and disrupt the body’s natural metabolism.
To explore how the total absence of dietary sugar impacts the body, researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait City conducted a 16-week study on two groups of mice. Both groups were placed on a low-fat diet, but with one critical difference.
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One group consumed a low-fat diet that included a standard amount of sucrose, while the other group ate a low-fat diet that was completely sugar-free, according to the study’s press release.
Throughout the trial, the scientists monitored a wide variety of physiological factors, including the animals’ weight, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, hormone levels, internal inflammation and the specific composition of their gut bacteria.
A total lack of dietary sugar can cause imbalances in the gut bacteria and lead to signs of fatty liver disease, even without any weight gain, researchers said. (iStock)
The study outcome suggested that completely removing sugar caused several unexpected health problems.
“Completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction,” Rasheed Ahmad, principal scientist and head of the Immunology & Microbiology Department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, said in the release.
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Even though the mice on the sugar-free diet did not gain any extra weight compared to the control group, their internal health indicators deteriorated.
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The animals that lacked sucrose developed an imbalance in their gut microbes and increased inflammation within the intestines and liver.
They also showed signs of poor glucose regulation, insulin resistance and cellular changes associated with fatty liver disease, according to the research.
Future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar bans and instead focus on overall gut health through balanced nutrition. (iStock)
“The findings suggest that complete removal of sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively affect gut microbiota and metabolic health,” Ahmad concluded.
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While the risks of high-sugar diets are well-established, the researchers noted that little attention has been given to the effects of completely eliminating sugar from low-fat meals.
Scientists say these new findings highlight that dietary carbohydrates play a valuable role in supporting balance between the immune system and the gut microbiome.
Completely cutting sucrose from a low-fat diet can unexpectedly trigger gut inflammation and disrupt the metabolism, experts say. (iStock)
Because this research was conducted on mice over a relatively short 16-week period, further clinical trials are necessary to determine whether a completely sugar-free diet causes the same gut and liver inflammation in humans.
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Additionally, the study focused specifically on removing sucrose from low-fat meals, meaning the results might not apply to people eliminating sugar while following higher-fat or ketogenic eating plans, the researchers noted.
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The team believes that future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar restrictions and instead place a greater emphasis on maintaining a diverse, healthy population of gut bacteria through balanced nutrition.
“In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions,” Ahmad said.
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