Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 10/18/2010

Question
Hi, My step-son has been diagnosed with ADHD since he was 5 years old. He started on 5 mg of Adderall and then finally reached 30mg by age 18. He did fairly well in school but not great. He did not feel college was for him just yet. So he looked at military options. His father has been in the Navy 27 years. He did not want Navy. So he decided on the Army. He did tell his recruiter he was ADHD and using Adderall. I did not think he would be accepted. However, he was accepted He was just told he needed to be off the meds about 60 days prior to the drug test and he needed to get clearance from a dr. He received the clearance to go off the meds but no follow-up was requested by the dr or the military. In addition, no follow-up exam occurred with the military. Everyone just accepted he passed the drug test and the dr cleared him. He is scheduled to leave in 3 days. I am very concerned that he was just a number to the recruiter and it was dismissed that he has ADHD. He was accepted into the infantry. Do you think there is reason for me to be concerned? He does do well when told what to do. However, the Army is stressful and he will be pushed like never before. Should he have ever been accepted? What happens if he does not do well? Will he be allowed to go back on the meds since the Army is aware of his previous medical condition?  

Answer
Karla,
Sorry I couldn't answer sooner, I was called away on a no-notice mission.

You're right about the recruiter just seeing him as a number.  A number with dollar signs ($).  The recruiter evidently "glossed over" the ADHD problem and advised your son not to say anything about it.  It's not ethical, but it's done all the time.  Not all recruiters are bad, but a few bad ones spoil their reputation.

The Army classifies Adderall as a controlled drugs with considerable "abuse potential."  The implications are it's a nasty drugs with lasting psychological side-affects which could make you a hazard to yourself and others.  While you probably could function normally in the military during peace time, the psychological aspects of combat could bring about all sorts of unknowns.  You're right, the psychological stress of military service is quite unlike the day-to-day life of a civilian.

So to answer your questions:
- Yes, you have every reason to be worried.  That's a mother's job.
- I doubt the Army is aware that he was on that drug.  Before age 15 they don't care, but you indicated he was still on it.  So the recruiter must've "fudged" that fact.
- The Army will not prescribe these drugs for him.

Can he function fairly well without the drug?  If so, it may have to just be "his little secret" for a long, long time.  If it's somehow discovered he will be discharged for "Pre-existing Conditions" and sent home.

It's really up to him at this point.  Can he keep a secret?  If so he can just press on and keep quiet.  If not, he may be discharged and sent home.

Colonel H