RAYTOWN, Mo. — Miguel Tejada, the Kansas City Royals’ player who was suspended for 105 games for continual use of amphetamines, said he has a medical condition that required the medication.
The amphetamine, Adderall, is most commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It isn’t just kids who have ADHD. Four percent of adults have it.
Focus. Jacque Lebow has it at home and on the job as an ICU nurse. But growing up, it wasn’t this way.
“I’d even lost jobs in college because of things I didn’t pay attention to,” said Jacque.
It wasn’t until after college that Jacque was diagnosed with ADHD. She was prescribed an amphetamine. At 35, she still takes a long-acting one and, when necessary, the short-acting Adderall.
“I’m able to handle multiple ideas at the same time. I’m able to tune out the background noise,” said Jacque.
Jacque said she doesn’t know if Tejada has a legitimate diagnosis of ADHD, but if he does, it would be tough to play baseball without the medication.
“I mean, I even remember playing softball in junior high and I would sit in the outfield going oh, my goodness, how many outs are there? I didn’t pay attention to what just happened — where do I need to throw to,” said Jacque.
Jacque said she could also understand how someone with ADHD might forget to get a therapeutic use exemption. It’s one required by Major League Baseball to continue taking Adderall.
“I do know as someone who has ADHD — failure to turn things in on time and failure to organize to get things done is a symptom of it,” said Jacque.
But Jacque also said she’s never had any problems with her drug tests at work. She’s always provided proof of her prescription. She’s open with co-workers about her ADHD.
“It’s been a good tool for me to talk about situations where I’ve been overwhelmed,” said Jacque.
She’s educating others about a condition affecting not just kids but also adults.
