Nonadherence to ADHD meds: Red flag for illicit drug use?

New research offers additional evidence that ADHD patients who fail to take their prescribed medication are more likely to engage in illegal drug use than those who do follow their regimens. While earlier studies have largely relied on data from refill records or patient self-reporting, the latest undertaking screened urine in order to gauge adherence. A total of 4,094 patients prescribed methylphenidate, an amphetamine, or both participated, but no trace of the medications showed up in samples collected from almost one-third of the study population.