3. RESEARCH PROBLEM; JUSTIICATION; AIM:
3.1. Research Problem
The researcher’s primary evidence of possible misuse of methylphenidate (MP) comes from non-scientific sources.
According to the Health24 website, South Africa has a higher rate of prescribing medication for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than the United States of America (USA) ("SA has one of the highest prescription rates for ADHD medication", 2016) despite only having an estimated adult prevalence rate of 3.5% for ADHD diagnosis in 2011(Van Schalkwyk & Schronen, 2011).
Methylphenidate (MP), commonly known as Ritalin or Concerta, is the most popular psychoactive substance prescribed for ADHD (Bell, Partridge, Lucke, & Hall, 2013; Maier, Liechti, Herzig, & Schaub, 2013; Teter, McCabe, LaGrange, Cranford, & Boyd, 2006). According to studies, MP is structurally similar to amphetamines and works in a similar way as a commonly abused substance known as cocaine (Kollins, MacDonald, & Rush, 2001). Therefore; it has abusive properties and can lead to patterns of psychological dependence. According to various studies, the stimulant is being misused by college students as they are psychologically more prone to take risks and misuse substances. …show more content…
Many studies have been conducted in USA, Australia and Europe regarding the prevalence of non-medical use of prescription stimulants or the correlational misuse of illicit substances with MP. However, very few studies have been conducted regarding any behavioural patterns of students misusing to MP and no studies have been conducted regarding psychological dependence patterns on just MP. Moreover, despite there being various studies stating the growing awareness and documenting the misuse of methylphenidate on campuses overseas (Maier, Liechti, Herzig, & Schaub, 2013); research has not yet been conducted in South Africa regarding the prevalence or misuse of the substance.
For the purpose of this study, the term “misuse” has been adapted from a study conducted by White, Becker-Blease, & Grace-Bishop (2006). The term will be used to describe either of the following circumstances: (1) the intake of the stimulant without a legitimate prescription; (2) use of stimulant with prescription, but with unintended doses for partying, staying awake or academic activities (White, Becker-Blease, & Grace-Bishop, 2006). 3.2. Justification This research would be one of the first to be conducted in South Africa regarding methylphenidate. This study would not only provide the prevalence of misuse of the substance in healthy adults; but also the frequency or unintended doses in healthy adults. The results could provide aid in assessing if patterns of psychological dependence exist in context of academics, partying or staying awake. For community purposes, the results of the research could indicate the extent to which the stimulant medication may need to be controlled in prescription access. The results may also aid in providing a baseline of how much the population needs to be educated in the dangers of misusing the substance. For future use, psychologists may use the results as an indication to work on new natural techniques to control symptoms of ADHD in order to lower the usage of the prescription drug. 3.3. Aim: There are two main aims/objectives in the study. The first aim is to determine the prevalence of undergraduate students of the University of Pretoria (UP) who misuse the substance methylphenidate (Ritalin). The second aim is to determine if the misuse of the substance has led to a possible psychological dependence of students on the stimulant with regards to staying awake, academic achievement or partying. 4.1. Methylphenidate Methylphenidate (MP) is the most commonly prescribed drug used to manage the symptoms of ADHD (Kollins, MacDonald, & Rush, 2001; Agay, Yechiam, Carmel, & Levkovitz, 2010; Volkow et al., 2001). MP is a substance that is structurally related to amphetamines; however, its neuropsychological profile is similar to that of cocaine. This means that MP and cocaine are very similar in terms of blocking the dopamine transporter (Kollins, MacDonald, & Rush, 2001; Volkow et …show more content…
Blocking of the DAT causes an increase in the extra-cellular dopamine levels. The increase, in turn, reduces the backfiring rate of neuronal cells and thus leading to a decline in non-task related activity. Therefore, an increase in dopamine reduces unwanted activity and leads to an increase in attention and reduces one’s distractibility (Agay, Yechiam, Carmel, & Levkovitz, 2010; Volkow et al., 2001). Consequently, the therapeutic doses of MP treat the primary symptom of ADHD, namely deficiency in attention, by increasing the dopamine
3.1. Research Problem
The researcher’s primary evidence of possible misuse of methylphenidate (MP) comes from non-scientific sources.
According to the Health24 website, South Africa has a higher rate of prescribing medication for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than the United States of America (USA) ("SA has one of the highest prescription rates for ADHD medication", 2016) despite only having an estimated adult prevalence rate of 3.5% for ADHD diagnosis in 2011(Van Schalkwyk & Schronen, 2011).
Methylphenidate (MP), commonly known as Ritalin or Concerta, is the most popular psychoactive substance prescribed for ADHD (Bell, Partridge, Lucke, & Hall, 2013; Maier, Liechti, Herzig, & Schaub, 2013; Teter, McCabe, LaGrange, Cranford, & Boyd, 2006). According to studies, MP is structurally similar to amphetamines and works in a similar way as a commonly abused substance known as cocaine (Kollins, MacDonald, & Rush, 2001). Therefore; it has abusive properties and can lead to patterns of psychological dependence. According to various studies, the stimulant is being misused by college students as they are psychologically more prone to take risks and misuse substances. …show more content…
Many studies have been conducted in USA, Australia and Europe regarding the prevalence of non-medical use of prescription stimulants or the correlational misuse of illicit substances with MP. However, very few studies have been conducted regarding any behavioural patterns of students misusing to MP and no studies have been conducted regarding psychological dependence patterns on just MP. Moreover, despite there being various studies stating the growing awareness and documenting the misuse of methylphenidate on campuses overseas (Maier, Liechti, Herzig, & Schaub, 2013); research has not yet been conducted in South Africa regarding the prevalence or misuse of the substance.
For the purpose of this study, the term “misuse” has been adapted from a study conducted by White, Becker-Blease, & Grace-Bishop (2006). The term will be used to describe either of the following circumstances: (1) the intake of the stimulant without a legitimate prescription; (2) use of stimulant with prescription, but with unintended doses for partying, staying awake or academic activities (White, Becker-Blease, & Grace-Bishop, 2006). 3.2. Justification This research would be one of the first to be conducted in South Africa regarding methylphenidate. This study would not only provide the prevalence of misuse of the substance in healthy adults; but also the frequency or unintended doses in healthy adults. The results could provide aid in assessing if patterns of psychological dependence exist in context of academics, partying or staying awake. For community purposes, the results of the research could indicate the extent to which the stimulant medication may need to be controlled in prescription access. The results may also aid in providing a baseline of how much the population needs to be educated in the dangers of misusing the substance. For future use, psychologists may use the results as an indication to work on new natural techniques to control symptoms of ADHD in order to lower the usage of the prescription drug. 3.3. Aim: There are two main aims/objectives in the study. The first aim is to determine the prevalence of undergraduate students of the University of Pretoria (UP) who misuse the substance methylphenidate (Ritalin). The second aim is to determine if the misuse of the substance has led to a possible psychological dependence of students on the stimulant with regards to staying awake, academic achievement or partying. 4.1. Methylphenidate Methylphenidate (MP) is the most commonly prescribed drug used to manage the symptoms of ADHD (Kollins, MacDonald, & Rush, 2001; Agay, Yechiam, Carmel, & Levkovitz, 2010; Volkow et al., 2001). MP is a substance that is structurally related to amphetamines; however, its neuropsychological profile is similar to that of cocaine. This means that MP and cocaine are very similar in terms of blocking the dopamine transporter (Kollins, MacDonald, & Rush, 2001; Volkow et …show more content…
Blocking of the DAT causes an increase in the extra-cellular dopamine levels. The increase, in turn, reduces the backfiring rate of neuronal cells and thus leading to a decline in non-task related activity. Therefore, an increase in dopamine reduces unwanted activity and leads to an increase in attention and reduces one’s distractibility (Agay, Yechiam, Carmel, & Levkovitz, 2010; Volkow et al., 2001). Consequently, the therapeutic doses of MP treat the primary symptom of ADHD, namely deficiency in attention, by increasing the dopamine