Minocycline does not improve symptoms in patients with depression

Stimulant prescribing to youths, young adults sees increase Concern over misuse and overdose risk has increased attention to trends in the prescribing of controlled medications to adolescents and young adults. A retrospective cohort study examined 2008–2019 trends in dispensing of stimulants, opioids, and other controlled medications to young people aged 13 to 25. The study analyzed results for adolescents and young adults who were enrolled in a commercial insurance plan. The investigators looked at pharmacy claims for patients who were dispensed a narcotic, stimulant, or depressant. Prevalence was defined as the number of youths and young adults per 1,000 enrollees who were dispensed a controlled medication. Monthly prescribing of stimulants peaked in 2016 at 45 per 1,000 for adolescents (aged 13 to 18) and 33.1 per 1,000 for young adults (aged 19 to 25). Monthly prescribing of stimulants then declined through 2019, but in 2019 remained at twice the level for adolescents in 2008. Both narcotic and depressant prescribing declined earlier in the study period than stimulant prescribing, with narcotic prescribing declining every year after 2010 and depressant prescribing declining every year after 2011 for young adults and every year after 2013 for adolescents. “The increase in stimulant use warrants attention because attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be overdiagnosed and overtreated,” the study’s authors wrote. [Toce M, et al. JAMA Pediatrics 2022; published online Oct 10; doi: 10.1001/ jamapediatrics.2022.3312] ▪