A central nervous system drug, methylphenidate is used primarily to treat people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) . After taking it, it will increase dopamine levels to temporarily improve attention, so many South Koreans have been mistaken for improving test scores as a“Smart drug.”.
About 86,000 people aged 10 to 19 took methylphenidate last year, accounting for 30 percent of all patients who took the drug, according to data from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, South Korea’s SBS television reported Tuesday, this represents an increase of about 26 per cent over the previous year.
South Korea’s joongang Ilbo reported that some students may buy methylphenidate at high prices from students who have a prescription before exams, or fake symptoms to get a doctor’s prescription, because they need a doctor’s prescription for the drug, further aggravate the problem of drug abuse.
Experts say methylphenidate abuse can pose serious health risks, including headaches, insomnia, loss of appetite, severe cases may appear hallucinations, suicidal tendencies. Studies have shown that non-ADHD patients taking the drug do not improve concentration, but may be less effective. Some experts suggest that regulation of prescription drugs should be strengthened, especially through education to make teenagers and their parents aware of the dangers of drug abuse.