GCSOM faculty paper finds increase in amphetamine use, regional disparities

Paper examines regional and ethnic differences in ADHD diagnosis, stimulant prescriptions and epidemiological patterns

Scranton, PA (11/20/2018) — Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students and faculty including Christy Ogden, MBS; Daniel Chung, MBS; James Caggiano, MD; Olapeju Simoyan, MD of Throop (Geisinger Marworth Treatment Center); and Brian Piper, PhD of Waverly, as well as collaborators at the University of New England and Husson University School of Pharmacy are the authors of a paper accepted for publication in PLOS ONE, an open access journal that features reports of original research from the natural sciences, medical research, as well as the related social sciences that will contribute to the base of biomedical knowledge.

The article, entitled, "Trends in Use of Prescription Stimulants in the United States and Territories, 2006 to 2016 ,"examines the regional and ethnic differences in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, stimulant prescriptions, and the pharmaco-epidemiological pattern of these controlled substances over the past decade. This study examines data reported by pharmaceutical companies to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This research concludes:

Amphetamine use increased 2.5 fold from 2006 to 2016
Methylphenidate (a central nervous system stimulant primarily used to treat ADHD)showed a modest decline
The average amount per municipality significantly increased 7.6% for amphetamine and 5.5% for lisdexamfetamine (a central nervous system stimulant used to treat ADHD and binge eating disorder)but decreased 2.7% for methylphenidate from 2015 to 2016.
Pronounced regional differences were also observed:Lisdexamfetamine, in 2016 was over thirty-fold higher in the Southern U.S. versus the U.S. Territories.Amphetamine was about one-third lower in the West relative to the Northeast or the Midwest.States with larger Hispanic populations had lower methylphenidate, lisdexamphetamine and amphetamine use.
Lisdexamfetamine, in 2016 was over thirty-fold higher in the Southern U.S. versus the U.S. Territories.
Amphetamine was about one-third lower in the West relative to the Northeast or the Midwest.
States with larger Hispanic populations had lower methylphenidate, lisdexamphetamine and amphetamine use.

The paper concluded that, "Total stimulant usage doubled in the last decade. There were dynamic changes but also regional disparities in the use of stimulant medications. Future research is needed to better understand the reasons for the sizable regional and ethnic variations in use of these controlled substances."

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) is a member of the Geisinger family. Geisinger Commonwealth offers a community-based model of medical education with campuses in Danville, Doylestown, Scranton, Sayre and Wilkes-Barre. Geisinger Commonwealth offers Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) degrees. The college's innovative curriculum, focused on caring for people in the context of their lives and their community, attracts the next generation of physicians and scientists from within its 17-county region in northeastern and north central Pennsylvania, as well as from across the state and the nation. Geisinger Commonwealth is committed to non-discrimination in all employment and educational opportunities. Visit www.geisinger.edu/gcsom.