Why do people with ADHD who need stimulants get prescribed a safe version of amphetamines instead of a safe version of something like cocaine?

Question

There are so many kinds of chemical stimulants why are amphetamines the thing ADHD patients need?

In: 553

Answer 1

Cocaine lasts like 15 minutes, is super expensive, and is refined from a plant.
Amphetamines can last 8 hours if used with delayed release coatings and are cheap and easy to produce.

It’s also a different kind of high than you’re thinking. The amphetamines they give to people with ADHD are more “sit down and read this book” and street amphetamines are more “i want to claw your face off so you stop staring at me about the spiders under my skin.”