The Big Fear: Are Stimulants Safe for Kids? (And Will They Get High?)

There is no decision more agonizing for a parent than the choice to medicate their child.

You read the word “Amphetamine” on the label, and your heart drops. You think of Breaking Bad. You think of addiction. You think, Am I drugging my child?

These fears are normal, but they are largely based on myths, not medicine. Let’s look at the science to separate the stigma from the safety facts.

1. The “High” Myth

The biggest worry is that giving a child stimulants (like Ritalin, Adderall, or Vyvanse) will make them “high” or euphoric.

The Reality:

It actually does the opposite.

• In a Neurotypical Brain: Stimulants flood the brain with extra dopamine, creating a “high” or a rush of energy.
• In an ADHD Brain: The brain is starting with a deficit of dopamine. The medication simply brings the levels up to “normal.”

When the dose is correct, an ADHD child does not get high. They get calm. The noise in their head quiets down, the impulse to run stops, and they can finally focus. If a child looks “zombie-like” or overly sedated, that is usually a sign the dose is too high, not that the medicine is dangerous. It means it needs adjusting, not abandoning.

2. The Addiction Worry

“If I give them this now, will they become an addict later?”

The Reality:

Studies consistently show that treating ADHD with medication reduces the risk of substance abuse later in life.

Why?

• Self-Medication: Untreated ADHD adults often turn to caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or drugs to quiet their chaotic brains.
• Impulsivity: Untreated teenagers are more impulsive and more likely to try risky things.

By treating the ADHD early, you stabilize the brain chemistry so they don’t feel the need to “fix” it themselves with illegal substances. You are protecting them, not exposing them.

3. Are They Safe Long-Term?

Stimulants are among the most studied medications in history. We have over 50 years of data on their safety.

• Growth: There can be a minor impact on growth (height), but studies show it is usually negligible (around 1-2 cm) and children often catch up later.
• Heart: Doctors will always check a child’s heart history and blood pressure before prescribing, just to be safe.
• Appetite: The most common side effect is appetite suppression. This is why many parents give a big breakfast before the meds kick in and a big dinner after they wear off.

4. It Is Not a Life Sentence

Starting medication doesn’t mean they are on it forever.

• You can take breaks on weekends or holidays (with your doctor’s guidance).
• You can stop if it isn’t working.
• You can try it for a month as a “trial.”

The “Insulin” Analogy

We don’t shame a diabetic for taking insulin. We don’t ask if they are “addicted” to it. We recognize that their body is struggling to regulate sugar, and the medicine helps.

ADHD medication is insulin for the brain’s focus centre. It isn’t a moral failure to need it; it is a medical tool to help a wonderful brain function at its best.