Are children who take ADHD medication more susceptible to bullying? Find out here!

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 5% of American children, the CDC reports. It is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as one of the most common childhood disorders, which symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity.

A new study coming from the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Women and Gender reveals that children who consume medication for treatment of ADHD are 50% more likely to be bullied by their peers who do not have ADHD, HealthDay reports. The study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.

According to CBS News, researchers analyzed 5,000 middle and high school students in the span of four years with regards to their use of stimulant medication for ADHD, and self-reported bullying. The data have shown that among those who consumed medicines for ADHD, 20% were asked to sell or share their medicine and 50% of them did. Based on the data, the teens with ADHD who participated in trading, selling, or sharing their drugs were 4.5 times more likely to be bullied than children without ADHD, and five times more likely to be bullied than children with ADHD but with no recent prescription.

TIME reports that according to study lead author Quyen Epstein-Ngo of the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Women and Gender, "We know that among adolescents in the U.S., prescription stimulants are some of the most misused and shared diverted and drugs. We also know that bullying is a real issue. There was some research that suggested that kids were having their medication stolen or were being coerced into giving it away."

"I think it's fair to say that bullying is a potential risk that's associated with stimulant treatment for ADHD," she said. "There's growing concern around stimulant misuse and abuse. We also know that peer victimization, bullying, in schools is a big issue."

Linda Cottler, chair of the epidemiology department at the University of Florida, commented that it is probably the child's behavior and not their medicine use that causes them to be bullied. She said, "They're not being stigmatized because they have ADHD and use meds. They may have behaviors that other kids are not tolerant of."

TIME reports that past studies have confirmed that children with ADHD often have more difficulties in making friends, have increased anxiety and substance abuse issues. They also are more likely to go to the emergency room compared to their counterparts who do not have ADHD.

Epstein-Ngo encourages schools to be aware of the issue of drug use and abuse among children and encourages parents to have a discussion with their children about it. She said, "It’s important to have the conversations about not sharing for any reason. Even with a friend."