While stimulant medications have helped some children reduce their hyperactivity and inattention, we cannot ignore the fact that a number of children need a more comprehensive treatment for ADHD. Not only do ADHD medications fail to work in the long run, but they also carry serious long-term side effects. Unfortunately, it’s a lot easier to get children and parents to agree to use stimulant drugs. According to a study published in Pediatrics, one in 20 American children received free drug samples from their doctors a year. As for those who decided to take prescription medications that year, almost one in 10 received a free sample. However, the study points out that these free samples may be unsafe.

These conclusions were drawn based on data from 10,295 children and adults in the2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Four of the fifteen most distributed drug samples were identified by the United States Food and Drug Administration as having serious safety concerns. Among the top four were are Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine), Strattera (atomoxetine), and Ritalin (methylphenidate) – stimulant medications used to treat ADHD. These stimulants belong to the same drug family as cocaine and pose the same long-term risks as this drug. While they are not addictive by themselves, free samples don’t usually come with clear instructions on how to take them, giving them lots of potential for abuse or recreational use.

Some physicians argue that free drug samples are a cost-effective way to provide medications to those who could not otherwise afford them. However, the study’s findings indicate that most of these free samples never reach their intended market. Only 16% of those who got free samples had no health insurance, and less than a third of these children came from families with low incomes (less than $38,000 a year for a family of four).

Another concern worth noting is that free samples tend to be for new medications that have just been introduced to the market. These new drugs have been released even though their safety profile has yet to be fully studied. And with stimulant ADHD medications, you can’t be too careful about their short-term and long-term side effects.

Treating ADHD with medication seems like the most convenient and practical approach to this disorder and free samples only encourage the casual use of these drugs. But we have to remember that medications alone are not enough to address the full spectrum of ADHD’s causes. In the long run, a comprehensive and holistic approach to ADHD management can circumvent the side effects of stimulants while providing results that last.