ADHD ‘study drug’ prescriptions surge among children, teens

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Prescriptions for methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant primarily used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are rising sharply among children and teenagers in Korea, raising concerns that the drug is being misused as a “study drug.”

According to the latest report on medical narcotics use released by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the number of young patients prescribed the drug in the first nine months of 2025 has already surpassed the total for 2024.

The report shows that 113,263 boys aged 19 or younger received at least one prescription for methylphenidate between January and September 2025 — surpassing the 107,267 boys prescribed the drug in all of 2024. Among girls in the same age group, the pattern is similar: 49,209 were prescribed methylphenidate during the same period, compared with 45,764 for all of 2024.

The growth is even steeper over a longer time frame. In 2023, 90,851 boys and 34,888 girls under 20 received methylphenidate prescriptions. In other words, over two years, the number of male teenage patients increased by roughly 25 percent, while female teenage patients rose by about 40 percent.

Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant classified as a medical narcotic in Korea and is one of the main pharmacological treatments for ADHD. As a prescription-only drug, it is intended for use under close medical supervision for diagnosed conditions. However, among some students and parents, it has gained a reputation as a pill that can “make you study better” or dramatically boost concentration.

Health authorities warn that the misuse or overuse of methylphenidate can cause serious health problems. In some cases, it may lead to hallucinations, delusions and even suicide attempts ― risks that are especially worrying in adolescents whose brains are still developing.

The ministry said it is intensifying oversight of medical narcotics, including cracking down on illegal online advertising and sales of methylphenidate. Since June 2025, doctors have been advised to review patients’ prior medication histories for methylphenidate and other high-risk medical narcotics before prescribing, as part of the ministry’s plan to strengthen safety controls.