PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS

THE TRUTH ABOUT PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS

SLANG: BENNIES/DEXIES/PEP PILLS/SPEED/

BLACK BEAUTIES/UPPERS/RED DEXIES/ 

RED PEP/BLUE PILL/WAKE-UPS/LID POPPERS/

TRUCK DRIVERS/RIDS/RITTIES/R POP/VITAMIN R/

R-BALL/STUDY BUDDIES/SMARTIES1

GET THE FACTS

STIMULANTS CAN HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS. Prescription 

stimulants are used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity 

disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (an illness in which someone 

cannot stay awake); they are prescribed to increase alertness, 

concentration, and attention. However, misusing them can 

lead to problems relating to the heart, nerves, and stomach, 

possibly causing a heart attack, stroke, or seizures.2

STIMULANTS CAN AFFECT YOUR BRAIN. Stimulants increase 

the activity of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. 

Rewarding experiences trigger dopamine release, which 

can lead to repeated use and addictive behavior. 

Norepinephrine affects blood vessels, blood pressure, heart rate, 

blood sugar, and breathing. Misuse of prescription stimulants—

even for a short period of time—may lead to hallucinations, 

paranoia, or anger.3

STIMULANTS CAN BE ADDICTIVE. In 2018, approximately 1 million 

people aged 12 or older misused prescription stimulants for the 

first time in the past year. An estimated 561,000 people aged 12 

or older had a stimulant use disorder (meaning that a person 

has problems with their health, school, or relationships 

because of their use of stimulants).4

? Q&A

Q. WILL PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS MAKE ME 

SMARTER?

A. NO. Prescription stimulants don’t improve 

school performance for people who aren’t 

diagnosed with ADHD.5 Stimulants can affect 

sleep, which is vital for memory and learning.

Q. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR 

STIMULANTS, SO THEY MUST BE SAFE FOR 

ANYONE TO USE, RIGHT? 

A. NO. Research shows that overuse can result in 

side effects of prescription stimulants, including 

dangerous heart-related symptoms with risk of 

heart attack or stroke.6

Q. IF I HAVE A STIMULANT PRESCRIPTION FOR 

ADHD BUT FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TAKE MORE 

THAN WHAT WAS PRESCRIBED BY MY DOCTOR, 

IS IT SAFE TO DO SO? 

A. NO.Taking more medication than prescribed can 

lead to increased risk of psychosis (loss of touch 

with reality), risk of heart attack and stroke, and 

risk of addiction.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

All stimulants, including prescription stimulants, are 

dangerous and can be deadly. Talk to your parents, a doctor, 

a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust if you have 

questions. 

LEARN MORE:

Get the latest information on how drugs affect the brain and 

body at teens.drugabuse.gov

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PRESCRIPTION 

STIMULANTS, CONTACT:

SAMHSA

1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) (English and Español)

TTY 1-800-487-4889

www.samhsa.gov I store.samhsa.gov
1 KNOW THE LAW. Taking prescription stimulants 

without a valid prescription or use of stimulants 

other than as prescribed is considered misuse and 

is illegal.7

2 KNOW THE RISKS. When prescription stimulants 

are taken in ways not prescribed, they increase a 

person’s risk of dangerous health issues, including 

heart attack, stroke, or death—especially when 

taken through the nose or injected into veins.8

3 LOOK AROUND YOU. Even if you think your peers 

are using stimulants not prescribed to them, the 

truth is that a very small number of teens are 

taking this risk. In 2018, only 1.5 percent of young 

people between ages 12 and 17 had misused 

stimulants in the past year.9

MORE INFORMATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR 

RESOURCES USED IN THIS

“TIPS for TEENS,”

visit store.samhsa.gov or call 

1–877–SAMHSA–7 (1–877–726–4727)

(English and Español).

PEP NO. 20-03-03-004 REVISED 2020

KNOW THE SIGNS

How can you tell if a friend is using stimulants? Potential side 

effects and symptoms include:10

• Increased blood pressure and heart rate

• Increased breathing

• Dangerously high body temperature with sweating

• Irregular heartbeat

• Heart failure

• Seizures

• Irritability

• Rapid speech, difficulty concentrating

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP SOMEONE 

WHO IS MISUSING STIMULANTS?

BE A FRIEND. SAVE A LIFE. 

Encourage your friend to stop using or seek help 

from a parent, teacher, or other caring adult. 

For 24/7 free and confidential information and 

treatment referrals in English and Spanish, 

call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at:

1–800–662–HELP (1–800–662–4357)

or visit the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator at 

findtreatment.gov

1

 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2019). Prescription Stimulants. Commonly 

Abused Drug Charts. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/

commonly-abused-drugs-charts

2,3 NIDA. (2018). Prescription Stimulants. Drug Facts. Retrieved from https://www.

drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-stimulants

4

 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2019). Key 

substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP19-5068, NSDUH 

Series H-54). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2018-nsduhannual-national-report

5

 Weyandt, L. L., White, T. L., et al. (2018). Neurocognitive, autonomic, and mood effects 

of Adderall: A pilot study of healthy college students. Pharmacy, 6(3), 58. Retrieved from 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29954141

6, 7 Weyandt, L. L., Oster, D. R., Marraccini, M. E., Gudmundsdottir, B. G., Munro, B. A., 

Rathkey, E. S., & McCallum, A. (2016). Prescription stimulant medication misuse: Where 

are we and where do we go from here? Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 

24(5), 400–414. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5113141/ 8

 Faraone, S. (2019). Prescription stimulant misuse, abuse prevalent among adults 

with ADHD. Healio. Retrieved from https://www.healio.com/psychiatry/add-adhd/

news/online/%7Ba563cc8c-6633-43c1-be9e-2677e2f4951f%7D/prescription-stimulantmisuse-abuse-prevalent-among-adults-with-adhd

9

 SAMHSA. (2019). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: 

Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. 

PEP19-5068, NSDUH Series H-54). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/

report/2018-nsduh-annual-national-report

10 NIDA. (2018). Prescription Stimulants. Drug Facts. Retrieved from https://www.

drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-stimulants