Wastewater Analysis of ADHD Medication on College Campuses

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder characterized by an inability to focus oneself on a single task. Diagnosis of ADHD medication is on the rise. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of high school boys and 11% of school children have received a medical diagnosis of ADHD from their doctor, leading some to fear that the diagnosis is being overused. Diagnosis rates have continuously risen over the past decade. This rise is alarming as the medications used to treat ADHD: Adderall, sold generically as mixed amphetamine salts, and Ritalin, sold generically as methylphenidate, have a high risk for abuse. Both are highly addictive with common side effects including trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, irritability, and anxiety.

A study conducted in part by the University of Washington and published in the scholarly journal "Science of the Total Environment, April 2013, sought to discover trends in the use of ADHD medication by college students over the course of an academic year. Waste-water (urine) from residential dorms containing 500 male and female students of ages 18 to 22 was chemically analyzed for the metabolites produced from each drug. Metabolites are the resulting chemical compounds the human body forms as it metabolizes and eliminates a drug. The study found that during the highest increase in Adderall use occurred during the finals week of the second semester as the amphetamine levels in the waste water rose 760% over the mean. The study shows that there was a clear relationship between the amount of ADHD medication taken and the level of academic stress imposed on the students. Rates were especially high during critical periods of final exams and midterms. The method of waste-water analysis is a new technique for testing the rate of drug use of large populations. Formerly, surveys would have been used to gather this type of data. Although less costly, surveys on drug use are notorious for generating results which are lower than what is accurate. Given the advantages of this method of research, it is easy to foresee waste-water analysis becoming the standard for measuring the rate of drug use in a population.