The misuse of amphetamines is a public health problem. Emergency room visits related to stimulant abuse increased from 2303 in 2004 to 17,272 in 20114. In 2015, there were ∼5.3 million non-medical users of prescription stimulants among individuals age 12 and older in the United States5. A meta-analysis of published neuroimaging data in individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for stimulant dependence showed reduced gray matter in prefrontal cortical regions that are associated with self-regulation and self-awareness6.
