Adderall. (wikicommons)
Back to school. Study, study, study.
Anyone who has gone to college knows students must balance an active social life with studying, and sleep. College students in their prime, meet people, make connections--and in the end, the physiological need for sleep can sometimes prevent simple studying and class attendance.
Currently one in four college students have used Adderall, and according to Drug News, can be purchased on the black market for $3 to $5 dollars a pill. According to a report issued by the Office of Applied Studies, “Under the Controlled Substance Act, Adderall® is classified as a Schedule II drug because of its high potential for abuse and dependence.”
In students with attention deficit and hyperactivity, this drug can help them focus long enough to complete their work. For others, it merely jacks up the system. It increases heart rate and decreases the need for sleep. The urban myth claims students who abuse this drug can get better grades.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to support higher test scores. Instead it enables students to stay awake long enough to socialize and cope with their class loads. But at what price?
According to Drug News, Adderall can result in a loss of creativity, anxiety disorder, psychosis, tolerance and withdrawal, and sexual dysfunction.
According to the Journal of American Board Family Medicine, “Although it is rare, Adderall use is associated with myocardial infarction and even sudden death.”
Just like athletes using steroids to improve performance, there is always a price to pay. (i.e man boobs and shrunken testicles). For Adderall, there isn’t even any evidence to support improved performance--so you might be risking a heart attack and ED for nothing.
Getting good grades in school should be no mystery.
Here’s the secret. As long as you have an average IQ and don’t suffer from any medical issues: reading the book, attending the class, and handing in all your work on time should earn you a B. Forget drugs, whining, and excuses--just do your work. Cause, click below. Adderall and other stimulants just make you look like a talking, talking, talking, moron.
Comments
Please get your facts straight. If you go to the actual study of 119 colleges (abstract available at Addiction Journal), you learn that "The life-time prevalence of non-medical prescription stimulant use was 6.9%, past year prevalence was 4.1% and past month prevalence was 2.1%. Past year rates of non-medical use ranged from zero to 25% at individual colleges." The fact that the survey found a single top end college having a 25% rate of Ritalin, Dexedrine or Adderall use (with some colleges showing none at all) is a far cry from saying 1 in 4 college students overall have used Adderall.
This kind of dishonest use of scientific data is damaging to any kind of coherent discussion of drug policy.
If you want to talk about the real problems of non-prescription use of stimulants, then let's do it without the lying, please.
Just learning and being made of aware that this stimulant...Adderall is out there is an eye opener and thank you for bringing it to my attention. As a mother of 2 college students it puts me that much more ahead for topic of discussions to bring up with my over worked and tired college students who as you put it are still trying to have a life. Thank you for your informative articles that always open my eyes to new ideas....As a responsible adult I can then go and find out more information from all articles and draw my own conclusions.
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