I can only speak for myself and ppl that i know that also have AD(H)D.  I know that I always had trouble with certain subjects in school.  Sometimes I just "couldnt get it".  I was raised in a very dysfunctional family and was not diagnosed until the age of 26.  So I can definitely level with the environment as a child.  

I started with Concerta and reached my maximum tolerance.  went off of that onto low dose adderrall and increased to the 20mg tabs.  when they were not available, they gave me Ritalin which actually had absolutely no affect on me whats so ever, and recently due to the shortage, again, i am on the XRs which work the best but will soon be SOL because i do not have insurance an longer.  

I will take adderrall for 3-10 days straight and then take a day or 3 off.  I do this to keep my tolerance down and well hell, its just plain expensive.  

I do agree that some doctors out there are too quick to slap a label on a kid and script them.  My niece for instance, they thought that because she was a lil different, she had a slight form of Aspburgers.  HEr mom was diligent on routine, structure, persistence and consistence and letting her 10 year old know that no means no and do as i say when I say or else she would up and leave the place they were at or she would receive a time out .  At times I thought that she was being a bit harsh but over time I realized that her daughter wouldnt be who she is today if she wasnt that way with her.  The doc wanted to "try" her on pills and My sis wouldnt have it.  Turns out.  She is gifted.  She took some tests and might just be a genious… 

Now I guess I am more of a conspiracist as far as believing that the government has some sort of dealings with the drug companies and either one of them yank it off the market for awhile for price inflation as people are so desperate to get it again. 

I take mine sparingly as I am scared out of my gourd thinking about not being able to have it anymore.  I am a better person because of it and I guess you could say Im addicted to "gettin shit done" and being a functioning member of society.