The parents of Richard Fee, who committed suicide in November 2011, say they begged their son's doctors not to prescribe Adderall, an amphetamine to which Richard had become addicted. Richard's story highlights widespread failings in the psychiatric system through which five million Americans take medication for A.D.H.D. Although the medications can significantly improve the lives of people
The parents of Richard Fee, who committed suicide in November 2011, say they begged their son's doctors not to prescribe Adderall, an amphetamine to which Richard had become addicted. Richard's story highlights widespread failings in the psychiatric system through which five million Americans take medication for A.D.H.D. Although the medications can significantly improve the lives of people with the disorder, the tunnel-like focus the medicines provide has led growing numbers of teenagers and young adults to fake symptoms to obtain prescriptions for highly addictive medications that carry serious psychological dangers. Meanwhile, many doctors skip established diagnostic procedures, renew prescriptions and spend too little time with patients to accurately monitor side effects.
The New York Times, 2/3/2013
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