Attention Deficit Disorder: Be sure to have a conversation with your teen who takes ADD medication (Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, etc.) and find out exactly how they have been taking it. Many high school seniors cut back on their pills as senioritis sets in because the academic demands are much lower. However, college will make more demands on their time and attention, so a review of medication is important. How will he/she get medications refilled from a distance? Be sure you’re aware of the names and numbers of local pharmacies near your teen’s college in case you have to intervene.
And it goes without saying that you need to read your teen the riot act about keeping medication in a secure place and never selling it to anyone, no matter how broke they are or how thrilling a ten-dollar bill might seem in exchange for an Adderall pill during finals.
Developmental Disabilities: More and more students with Asperger’s, autism, and other social issues are heading off to mainstream colleges. It’s worthwhile reviewing with these students which coping strategies have worked for them and which have not in the past. Understandably, this transition can be extremely anxiety-provoking for a student who has had difficulty making friends or has fit in with a relatively small niche of friends. I always reassure my patients that whoever they are, there will be more people like them at college than in high school.
In some cases, it may be helpful to call the administration and the college health services to be sure that your child can identify a guidance person or dean who will be able to steer them through rocky moments or merely check in with them periodically.