Increased Demand for ADHD and High-Caffeine Drinks Before Suneung... Higher Sales in Gangnam

Distribution of Drugs with Unclear Manufacturing Process
High-Caffeine Drinks Exceeding Daily Intake for Adolescents

With the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) just two weeks away, some examinees are misusing and overusing ADHD medication and high-caffeine drinks to improve concentration, raising concerns.

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According to the Korea National Health Insurance Service's announcement on the 3rd, the ADHD medication ingredient 'Methylphenidate' is popularly known as the so-called 'study-enhancing drug' among students.

The areas with the highest prescriptions for ADHD medication were the three districts with intense educational enthusiasm?Gangnam, Songpa, and Seocho?ranking first to third.

Buying and selling prescription drugs illegally without a doctor's prescription is clearly unlawful. Additionally, if taken by individuals who are not patients, side effects and tolerance may develop.

However, searching keywords like 'Methylphenidate' or 'ADHD medication' online easily leads to purchasing sites. One site even advertised 'India shipping' while selling pharmaceuticals with unclear manufacturing processes.

High-caffeine drinks far exceed daily intake for adolescents... thriving ahead of CSAT

A website that appears when searching for 'medicine that makes you smarter' on a portal site.
[Photo by Internet portal site capture]

High-caffeine drinks are also steadily sold among examinees. High-caffeine drinks contain 15 mg or more of caffeine per 100 ml. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake for adolescents of 2.5 mg per kg of body weight.

According to the 'Youth Health Behavior Survey' conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency last year on over 60,000 middle and high school students, 22.3% consume high-caffeine drinks three or more times a week. Those who drink once or twice a week accounted for 26.4%.

Experts point out that medications containing methylphenidate or high-caffeine drinks may actually reduce learning efficiency.

A study published in the American Medical Association journal 'JAMA Network Open' reported that long-term use of ADHD medication and high caffeine can lead to various negative effects such as cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and seizures. It also stated that when ADHD medications are used for non-medical purposes, problems such as decreased concentration may occur.

ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a disorder commonly appearing in childhood characterized by persistent lack of attention, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Drug treatment is effective, showing clear improvement in 80% of patients, with overall enhancement in concentration, memory, and learning ability. Additionally, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity decrease, while interest and motivation for tasks increase, improving performance ability.