Wasn't this a plot-point in the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy series? Having an artificial universe on-site so they could go exploring but still be able to come back for long lunches...

Comparatively? I don't know. Laudanum dependency was a major issue, to be sure. And opium issue was an incredibly major problem in China. It wasn't until the Communist regime started executing addicts that they managed to kick the epidemic.

The latter. I'm a jobs creator! :D

Oh good. I sorta figured it was common...

I've always been able to focus on video games. I score off the charts on all tests for ADD. I've been taking meds for ADD for about 21 years now. Video games just work different for attention. I can't explain it, and I'm too lazy to pull it up, but there has been research related to this. It has to do with getting sufficient stimulation.

Granted during load screens, I'll often switch to TV and forget to turn back to the game...

I've been doing it for 14 years...And did it with Ritalin for 7 years before that. I feel no withdrawal symptoms. I've never seen any research showing evidence of physical addiction to Adderall.

I'd be all for this if it wasn't for the fact that said people would eventually start sucking up my tax dollars.

I've seen a lot of prescription abusers as a pharmacy tech. It effects them physically; generally ruins their life. I got to the point where I could hear it in their voice. Within one innocuous sentence, I could tell they were about to slap down a prescription for Oxycodone or morphine qty 100. Many of these people were selling pills on the black market to other addicts. You could usually spot the sellers because they would ask for brand-name (they sell at a higher profit margin on the black market) and not bat an eye when quoted the price without insurance.

I am all for decriminalization of many illicit substances; but physically addictive substances, namely opiates, need some sort of control. I know that just plain jail-time isn't the best solution, but something to that effect is needed.

If you'd like to learn more about just how complicated a problem this is, I highly recommend watching the BBC miniseries Traffick (Quite a bit different from the Hollywood remake, Traffic); it was recently put on Netflix Instant Watch. Just replace "Heroin" with "prescription opiates" as you watch and you get the general idea.

Adderall XR is in capsule form, you shouldn't attempt to split it. Regular adderall can be split normally.

At least in the US, teachers are not supposed to do this. Teachers should bring up issues with the counselors, and it is up to the counselors to decide whether or not to advise the parents. Many people are diagnosed with ADD and find ways to cope without meds. I think that's wonderful. Some try to cope without meds, and it just results in the school system wanting the kid expelled. If all that must be done to avoid expulsion, or increase performance, and improve one's own satisfaction with performance is to take a pill every day, then I think that's just wonderful too. I do agree that stimulant treatments for ADD/ADHD are overprescribed. Treatments should be considered very carefully on a case-by-case basis, and many times parents/doctors/insurance is not interested in putting forth the needed effort.