Dr. Phil Primetime: Season 1, Episode 138

1 - 138: Adderall And Other Stimulants: America's Next "Opioid" Crisis?

America is facing a silent AND growing epidemic: the Adderall crisis. The use of this stimulant (and its generics), known by street names like A-Train, Addy, Amps, Christmas Trees, Co-Pilots, Lid Poppers, Smarties, Study Buddies, and Study Skittles has exploded from 35.5 million prescriptions in 2019 to 45 million in 2022. But these numbers only scratch the surface. A dangerous black market has emerged, flooding streets with counterfeit pills indistinguishable from the real thing. Users, often unaware, risk their lives with every dose. Even legitimate prescriptions carry significant dangers. The DEA warns we're on the brink of our next drug crisis. With 5-6 million Americans using Adderall without proper diagnosis and one in four teens in some schools abusing prescription stimulants, we're watching a new generation spiral into un-prescribed/unneeded use and addiction.