The Netflix drama True Education is drawing attention at the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety for squarely addressing the recent problem of misuse of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications.
It has become an opportunity to inform the public about the dangers of ADHD medications that have been disguised among some parents as "study-boosting pills." Minister Oh Yu-Kyoung of the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety also recently showed interest by mentioning the drama to staff, according to reports on the 29th.
True Education follows a fictional Bureau for the Protection of Teachers' Rights under the Ministry of Education that guides students onto the right path and restores teachers' authority. In episode 8, released recently, a high school student in Daechi-dong, Seoul, named Jeong Hyun-min, who was studying with the goal of entering Seoul National University College of Medicine, collapses with a nosebleed during an exam. The cause was excessive use of the ADHD medication methylphenidate.
In the drama, a parent says, "All the kids here take it" and "I got it with difficulty so you can study well," and keeps giving the drug to a son. The main character, inspector Na Hwa-jin (Kim Mu-yeol), tells parents, "It's called a pill that raises grades, a pill that gets you into med school, but we call it a drug that kills people," and "Is med school more important than your son's life?" The Bureau for the Protection of Teachers' Rights conducts urine tests on students and warns that taking it without a doctor's prescription can be subject to criminal punishment.
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety also recognizes the seriousness of misuse of ADHD medications and is carrying out prevention activities targeting teenagers and parents. The drama realistically portrays the side effects of methylphenidate and the possibility of criminal punishment, making it possible to expect a preventive effect. An official at the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety said, "Recently, the minister personally mentioned the drama."
According to the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Institute of Drug Satety & Risk Management, the number of patients prescribed the ADHD medication methylphenidate last year was 392,239, up 16% from the previous year. The number of pills prescribed rose 20% to 108,159,712. Methylphenidate is a psychotropic drug that stimulates the central nervous system to increase concentration. Recently in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, it is often prescribed after being disguised as a study-boosting pill.
A pharmacy in Daechi-dong said that day, "We are currently out of stock," adding, "If you get an ADHD test at a hospital and bring a prescription, we can place an order." On an online community for Gangnam parents, questions such as "My child can't concentrate during every mock exam; please recommend a hospital" are posted. In some quarters, model answers for obtaining an ADHD diagnosis and a medication prescription are reportedly being shared.
Experts warn that taking the medication incorrectly without having ADHD can instead cause symptoms of restlessness or anxiety. They note that an excessive state of arousal can cause side effects such as irritability and insomnia. People with heart problems who take methylphenidate are also at risk of stroke or myocardial infarction.
Since last year, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety has recommended that medical staff check patients' past medication histories when prescribing methylphenidate. The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety is also managing the misuse of the appetite suppressant phentermine, known as the "butterfly pill," in addition to ADHD medications. In April, it detected a doctor who had excessively prescribed the butterfly pill and others and referred the case to the prosecution on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act. This drug is a psychotropic medication that acts on the brain's central nervous system to control appetite or increase satiety. It has the drawbacks of high dependency and significant side effects.