My student pilot and his Adderall prescription

[LDJones]

I had a student start training a couple of weeks ago. Nice young man, recent college graduate. He was really pumped after the flight. In our debrief I walked him through the next steps, including, the medical. It was then he told me he'd heard he may have an issue with a prescription he got while in college.

Turns out, Adderall was being treated as a grade-enhancer at his college. He was referred to a Dr. that would give him a ten question quiz with questions like "Do you misplace your car keys?" Answer the questions correctly (the "right" answers being quite obvious), you walked out with a RX for Adderall!

My heart sank as he told me the story, knowing the hoops you need to jump through to overcome an ADHD diagnosis. I immediately called my favorite AME and we jointly discussed it with him.

To make a long story short, after a visit to the AME and a telephone conference with the FAA they agreed he was never "diagnosed" as ADHD so the rx didn't matter and he walked out with a FIrst Class medical the same day. I was shocked (but happily so), so we're off and running on his training.

I've since learned it's quite common around campuses and is doled out by the pill ($5 each) during final exam time. Crazy!

Loren

 

[mscard88]

I’ve had 3-4 in the last year Loren, so I now ask upfront and explain why I’m asking. Had one 50 some year old who didn’t take my suggestion to consult with Dr Bruce, went it on his own and has been denied. A shame, good pilot but under a similar medication. Another great guy is on medication for depression so he’s probably looking at a long road ahead. A real shame that this got out of control in the past 20-30 years I guess as far as prescribing this stuff.

Glad yours worked out!

 

[sourdough44]

I swear Doctors & drug companies won’t be satisfied until ALL of us are on some mood altering drug! No more ‘down days’ allowed, it just isn’t right. Maybe Prozac(or equivalent) in the water supply, Viagra too.

My older Son thanks me once in a while(he’s a pilot) for not putting him on something while growing up. Back in my day I wonder what I would be prescribed? I think I did some stuff that was out of the ‘norm’, seems that’s not allowed today.

 

[hindsight2020]

Yup, I'll fight like a mad ape before I let any school system or medical industrial complex "categorize" my son and try to medicate him. I'll go underground/abroad for his medical care if need be. I'm not being hyperbolic either. Especially when it comes to boys and sedentary school settings,plus apathetic underpaid teachers who want little manageable zombies or "he has ADHD". Yeah Homey don't play dat.

Some system we got in this Country. Healthcare in America is no different than any organized religion scam to me. Always follow the money.

 

[mscard88]

They tried that with my son back in 80s. Shrink hands me a prescription for Ritalin after talking to my son for 5-10 minutes. I threw it back at him and told him no f’g way are you drugging my kid, and walked out. My son was a kid and a bit of a slow learner, like many kids are. He caught up in HS and went on to college and a good career.

 

[bbchien]

That' s great Loren.

I think there are one or two Med. Officers who can be reasonable on this one, but by and large as there is no reward for a M.O. to permit what yours apparenty did....we'll see how this plays out. I suspect there will be "internal clarification" on matters such as these.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Wow! That is crazy, and I'm glad your student got through it OK!

I wonder if the campus "health centers" are doing this because of the illicit prescription drug trade that was happening before... I've heard stories of adderall, ritalin, etc being sold as if they were pot and cocaine. At least this way you know the pills are what they say they are...

 

[1RTK1]

From what I have heard they are readily available for purchase on any college campus.

 

[Zeldman]

I sometimes wonder about drug manufacturers.

The new scare on Tv..... If you are between that ages of ---- and ---- you may have ------ disease. Visit your doctor and start taking this drug now.!!! what they don't tell you is that you will need to take one pill a day for 1 year at 1000 bucks a pill....

Followed the next week by: Have you taken --- recently.?? If so call us now.!! You may have a case........