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A Dangerous Study Buddy
By Megan Strothman
Adderall is quickly replacing strong study habits for millions of high school and college students across the nation. In fact, some believe it is now the most abused drug on campus, even over alcohol.
Adderall, a commonly prescribed medication for those diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), has found popularity as a study drug. While some teens fake ADD symptoms to get a prescription, taking it without one is illegal. Students without prescriptions have little to no trouble buying Adderall from friends or classmates who actually do suffer from ADD.
According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, people between the ages of 18 and 25 are more likely than any other age group to abuse prescription drugs. Take John, for example, who wants to keep his last name confidential. John, a junior at Middle Tennessee State University, has used Adderall even though he doesn’t have a prescription. After hearing about this stimulant from a friend, John decided to experience the effects for himself.
“I know it’s illegal, but who doesn’t do illegal things?” he says. John’s carefree attitude shows students’ perceptions of misusing prescription drugs as more accepted by society. They don’t feel that they’re doing anything particularly wrong, says Chris Killmeier, Walgreen’s head pharmacist in Louisville, Kentucky. Because they are prescribed by physicians, medications such as Adderall are often considered safer than illicit drugs and may therefore be more attractive to students.
According to Killmeier, the growing problem of prescription drug abuse is related to the high level of accessibility. Adderall has become the primary amphetamine on the market, filling on average 20-25 prescriptions a day, Killmeier acknowledges. since 1996, 50 million prescriptions have been written.
The use of Adderall is greatest among students attending more competitive colleges. A student at the University of Dayton, Kara, admits to giving her friends Adderall. “I give it to them when they ask me because I feel bad saying no,” says Kara.
Able to get her prescription refilled only every 30 days, Kara has to monitor how many pills she has left. “I actually have ADD and need Adderall to function in school,” she says. “My friends tell me I’m funnier when I don’t take my Adderall, though, so sometimes on the weekends I will skip,” says Kara.
As the individuals who suffer from ADD prefer not to take their medication every day, there becomes a market for it. While Kara freely gives her prescription Adderall away, other students sell their drugs from $2 to $10, depending on the dosage. In the students’ minds, it enhances grade performance. Giving away Adderall, to Kara, is a simple way of helping out her friends. They forget that selling or distributing the drug is a federal crime, says detective Todd Vittitow of Louisville’s Metro Narcotics Technical Operations.
Students say that while caffeine may help keep you awake, Adderall actually aids in boosting concentration. During finals week, or before SAT/ACTs, Adderall abuse increases to an ultimate high as students consume the stimulant like candy to stay awake while studying.
“Students will be packed into the library pulling all-nighters, then carry on the next day without any sleep,” says Kara. According to Shire Pharma-ceutical’s Adderall XR Web site sudden termination following prolonged high-dosage procedures results in extreme fatigue and mental depression. Coming off Adderall can feel like coming off cocaine, but it is not viewed as such a serious drug of abuse.
Insomnia is just one of the many side effects of Adderall. If a person takes enough Adderall, they risk increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, irritability, dry mouth, weight loss, and mood swings, says Killmeier. Students who begin using Adderall as a study aid find they are unable to feel confident in their study habits and learning skills without the drug. Many users then become completely dependent on it, needing increased amounts of the substance to receive the same effects.
Paul Coleman, president and chief executive officer of Maryhaven—central Ohio’s oldest and most comprehensive health-care facility treating more than 8,000 patients a year—said that any time there is an addiction, “it opens the door for further use of illegal substances [such as cocaine abuse].”
Coleman added that when a person has an addiction, no matter if it is to a prescription drug like Adderall, or a drug like cocaine, you are “basically unaware of the side effects.” However, students continue to believe the benefits outweigh the risks.
It is best for students to engage in healthier and risk-free options to achieve academic success. Spend more time in the library, exercise to clear your head, eat healthy meals, and get lots of sleep in order to be in the best condition to hit the books without the use of Adderall.
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