[News Issue] Exploiting Anxiety Before Suneung: 'ADHD Medication'

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications are being misused among exam-takers as so-called 'study-enhancing drugs.' Despite not having ADHD symptoms, students are illegally obtaining prescriptions, believing these drugs improve concentration during academic work. This pattern repeats every year ahead of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), and this year, some companies exploited the anxiety of students preparing for the exam by falsely advertising ADHD medications as 'concentration-enhancing supplements' and the like.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) conducted a focused inspection from the 15th to the 25th of last month and uncovered numerous posts with false advertisements for foods and illegal distribution and sales of ADHD medications (methylphenidate, amphetamine class). In particular, posts illegally selling and distributing methylphenidate products (psychotropic drugs) and amphetamine products (no domestically approved products) as so-called 'study-enhancing drugs' or 'concentration-boosting drugs' totaled 711 cases. The MFDS warned, "These products have unclear origins and are highly likely to be counterfeit medicines, so they must never be purchased."

It is known that taking methylphenidate as a stimulant outside of ADHD treatment purposes can cause side effects such as headaches, anxiety, hallucinations, delusions, and suicide attempts. Experts explain that these drugs are effective only when taken by children and adolescents who have learning disabilities due to ADHD. There is no research showing that long-term use improves academic performance. Moreover, these medications are classified as 'Class Na' under the Enforcement Decree of the Narcotics Control Act, indicating a high risk of misuse and severe physical and mental dependence if abused.

Nevertheless, prescriptions for ADHD medications among children and adolescents have doubled in the past three years. According to an analysis of MFDS data by Baek Hye-ryun, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party, the number of patients prescribed methylphenidate increased from about 143,000 in 2020 to about 281,000 in 2023. Among these, the number of patients aged 10 and under nearly doubled from about 65,000 to about 125,000 during the same period. Teenagers prescribed methylphenidate accounted for an average of 45.4% across all age groups annually.

Interestingly, the increase in teenage ADHD patients was concentrated in regions with high educational enthusiasm. According to ADHD incidence statistics from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the increase in children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 receiving ADHD treatment was prominent in the Gangnam 3 districts, Nowon-gu, and Yangcheon-gu, areas dense with private academies. In Gangnam-gu, the number rose from 1,438 in 2018 to 2,509 in 2022, a 74% increase; Songpa-gu saw a 142% increase from 858 to 2,078; and Seocho-gu increased by 147% from 549 to 1,360 during the same period. Outside the Gangnam 3 districts, Nowon-gu, centered around the academy-dense areas of Junggye and Sanggye-dong, had over 1,000 teenage ADHD patients in 2022, increasing 24% from 980 in 2018 to 1,220 in 2022. Yangcheon-gu, where Mokdong is located, also rose 44% from 672 in 2018 to 968 in 2022.