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      Stimulants Prescription Policy

      Prescription Stimulants are classified as a Schedule II-controlled substance and have a potential to be misused or diverted. 

      Prescription stimulant misuse includes

      • Using medication without a prescription of one’s own, even if with therapeutic intent.
      • Using medication in greater amounts, more often, or longer than prescribed.
      • Using medication in any way other than directed by a prescriber (e.g., non-medical use)
      • Using medication for recreational purposes or without therapeutic intent.

      Prescription Diversion

      Prescription diversion is selling, trading, or giving away your stimulant medication from legitimate prescriptions at the request of others. As per SAMSHA, in some studies up-to 60 percent of youth have reported obtaining stimulant medication from a friend or relative at some point. 

      Substance Use & stimulant misuse and diversion

      A concurrent use of any other illicit drug increases the risk of misuse and diversion by stimulants by multiple folds. 


      Guidelines for prescription of stimulants at MindWeal have been established with the goal to reduce the misuse and diversion of stimulant medications. These guidelines are based on the literature review and recommendations by SAMSHA, AACAP, APA & AAP on this matter. 

      Some Facts from latest literature review

      • As per CDC, prevalence of illicit drug use in children & adolescents (any illicit drug use in the past month) in 2018: 0.9% (age range 12-13), 5.1% (age range 14-15), 13.5% (age range 16-17), 22.1% (age range 18-25). 
      • Studies suggest that adolescents with ADHD have higher rates of substance use and start using substances at an earlier age as compared to those who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD.
      • Studies suggest that prescription of stimulants do not appear to increase the risk for later development of substance use disorders. Infact, several studies suggest that when used to treat ADHD in childhood & adolescence, stimulant medications reduce the risk of development of substance use disorders in adulthood.

      Guidelines for Prescription of Stimulants & Marijuana Use

      • If you are receiving a stimulant for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), concurrent use of marijuana or any other illicit drug is not allowed.
      • For all patients, ages 14 and older, an initial negative urine drug screen (UDS) is required before starting a stimulant medication that needs to be completed within one week of the request.
      • A stimulant prescription can be paused or stopped at any time by your treatment provider if there is suspicion for substance abuse or misuse or diversion of medication. 
      • All the patients ages 14 and older on stimulant medications will require a minimum of yearly negative urine drug screen. Your treatment provider may ask to complete urine drug screens more often and randomly.
      • If a UDS result is positive for any illicit drug including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (a substance found in marijuana), stimulants will be discontinued immediately for at least one month or until the patient’s next appointment with the provider, whichever is later. 
      • During this appointment, the provider will establish the patient’s insight into substance use, motivation to stay clean & overall risks of continued and recurrent substance use. 
      • If the patient is assessed to be at a lower risk of subsequent substance use, a UDS can be completed as early as 1 month after positive UDS. 
      • If this repeat UDS is negative for all illicit drugs including THC, stimulants can be resumed immediately. 
      • If this repeat UDS is positive for any illicit drugs, stimulants will not be prescribed for at least next 6 months. Random UDS will be ordered by your provider during these 6 months and if all of them are negative, stimulants can be resumed.
      • If any of these UDS are positive, the patient will be required to attend an outpatient substance use treatment program and will also need to demonstrate no use of substances for at least one year from the day of last positive UDS.