Driven by intense academic pressure, more Korean teenagers abuse prescription stimulants now than smoke cigarettes.
A recent National Youth Policy Institute survey of 3,384 middle and high school students nationwide found that 5.2 percent of respondents admitted to taking at least one prescription drug without a prescription. In contrast, only 4.2 percent reported smoking a cigarette at least once.
The study highlights a dangerous shift toward the misuse of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. Among teenagers who reported taking unprescribed drugs over the past six months, 24.4 percent consumed methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant prescribed for attention problems and ADHD.
Appetite suppressants were the second-most misused drug at 20 percent, followed by sleep aids and anti-anxiety medications at 13.3 percent each.
The frequency of methylphenidate abuse is particularly severe. Among those who misused the ADHD medication over a six-month period, 23.1 percent took the drug 20 or more times a month, while 7.6 percent consumed it 6 to 19 times a month.
The image generated by artificial intelligence shows the monthly frequency of teen ADHD drug misuse over the past six months, based on data from the National Youth Policy Institute.
The spike in prescription stimulant abuse is largely fueled by students using the medication as a "study drug" to enhance academic performance in highly competitive school districts.
"Beyond simple curiosity or temporary use, the tendency to use drugs to improve concentration and boost academic performance is becoming a reality," the research team said in the report.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
