About 1.2 million people use stimulants for non-medical reasons, government finds

Key points
- The government says about one-point-two (m) million people age 12 and older abused stimulants in 2003 - a figure that's unchanged from the year before.
- More than 12 (m) million people have used meth for non-medical reasons in their lifetimes, while eight-point-seven (m) million people have used prescription diet pills in that manner.
- The government says some four-point-two (m) million people misused Ritalin and two-point-six (m) million have used Dexedrine for non-medical reasons.
- Methamphetamines, prescription diet pills and the attention deficit disorder drugs Ritalin and Dexedrine are the most abused stimulants.
The government says about one-point-two (m) million people age 12 and older abused stimulants in 2003 - a figure that's unchanged from the year before.
Methamphetamines, prescription diet pills and the attention deficit disorder drugs Ritalin and Dexedrine are the most abused stimulants.
More than 12 (m) million people have used meth for non-medical reasons in their lifetimes, while eight-point-seven (m) million people have used prescription diet pills in that manner.
The government says some four-point-two (m) million people misused Ritalin and two-point-six (m) million have used Dexedrine for non-medical reasons.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Addiction →
NewsCancer killing younger people in India, tobacco main cause
Cancer is killing younger people in India and affecting far more poor and less-educated villagers than wealthier, better-educated urban people, researchers reported on Wednesday. "Cancer appears earlier (in India) than…
29 March 2012
NewsMany people continue to smoke after being diagnosed with cancer
A new analysis has found that a substantial number of lung and colorectal cancer patients continue to smoke after being diagnosed. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer…
24 January 2012
NewsNicotine replacement therapies may not be effective in helping people quit smoking
Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) designed to help people stop smoking, specifically nicotine patches and nicotine gum, do not appear to be effective in helping smokers quit long-term, even when combined with…