Teens and kids, who take drugs like Adderall and Ritalin to treat Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), are twice as likely to be bullied as their peers without ADHD, according to a recent research.
The University of Michigan study found that at even higher risk were middle and high school students who sold or shared their medications, those kids were four-and-a-half times likelier to be victimized by peers than kids without ADHD.
The main findings are the same for both sexes, said the study's first author, Quyen Epstein-Ngo.
It's long been known that kids with ADHD have a harder time making and keeping friends and are bullied and victimized more. This study is believed to be the first known to look at how stimulant medications affect their relationships with peers.
The study appears in Journal of Experimental Child Psychology.