Tori Byrd

May 7, 2017
Written Communications II

What are the negative effects, both physical and mental, of non-

prescription stimulant usage among college students?

The popular saying, Desperate times call for desperate measures, is

a phrase that college students know all too well. College is a highly

competitive environment, and no amount of studying ever feels like enough.

Nothing is worse than putting a lot of effort into school work and

continuously being unsuccessful. During the 21st century, Adderall has

become the drug of choice to enhance performance in college and is

considered todays college candy and academic steroid.

Adderall and Ritalin are drugs used for the treatment and control of

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (FDA).

Adderall increases the amount of neurotransmitters such as epinephrine,

dopamine, and norepinephrine (Yanes). For people with ADHD, the drug helps

them attain a normal ability to focus on daily tasks without becoming easily

distracted. Adderall and other ADHD stimulants are used to treat a chemical

imbalance in students with legitimate ADHD diagnoses. These students are

often initially diagnosed during in their early childhood (Blair).

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, Adderall is a

drug that has some accepted medical use, but has a high potential for abuse

(Blair). Adderall is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. This

means that there is a high risk for addiction of abuse, and its usage should
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May 7, 2017
Written Communications II

be monitored carefully by a healthcare professional (Hom). This may lead to

severe psychological and physical dependence (Rise of the Study Drug).

Adderall abuse can lead to high blood pressure, seizures, motor or verbal

tics, difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, rash, hallucination, and much

more (Hom). Many people that become addicted to Adderall need the drug to

carry out normal daily functions. They will develop a tolerance and need a

higher dosage to get the same effect (Hom). Long term and chronic abuse of

Adderall is marked by severe rash, insomnia, irritability and personality

changes. The most severe symptom is psychosis (Hom). Withdrawal

symptoms of Adderall and other ADHD stimulants include fatigue,

depression, dejection, and disturbed sleeping patterns (Blair).

School obligations do not stop when students leave the classroom, and

other aspects of daily life come into play (Blair). College students have to

find time to attend class, complete assignments, work, and study for test,

and this causes a lot of stress. There never seems to be enough time in the

day. This drives college students to abuse ADHD stimulants. They help

students stay awake longer and increase their alertness. As a result, they are

more effective and complete more homework and studying (Blair).

Full-time college students were twice as likely to have used Adderall

non-medically as their counterparts who were not full-time students,

according to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health report released in

2009 (Yanes). Most of the college students who use Adderall are ages of 18-
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May 7, 2017
Written Communications II

22 (NSDUH). Common motives for Adderall usage is for study purposes,

increased focus, to get high, or to experiment (Teter). College students use

Adderall to cram for tests and stay up all night. It prolongs attention and

stamina during study time. Some students use it as a party drug. They use

the drug in conjunction with other drugs and alcohol (Blair), but more than

90% of students use if for studying purposes (Yanes).

Since colleges students use the drug to get better grades, its seen as

socially acceptable. In a 2008 study of 1,800 college students, 81% of

students interviewed (DeSantis 2008) thought illicit use of ADHD medication

was "not dangerous at all" (Yanes). This is a key reason why ADHD

stimulants are rampant on college campuses. People who use recreational

drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, or heroine, might be labeled as junkies,

pot-heads, pill-heads, or alcoholics. Students who use Adderall might be

labeled as motivated, hardworking students among their peers. There is no

negative stigma attached to Adderall. Instead, it is viewed as educationally

beneficial and a drug that makes you smarter (Blair).

Students do not think that Adderall is any worse than drinking coffee or

taking energy drinks. It is not perceived as dangerous compared to

marijuana, oxycotin, cocaine, heroine, or opium. These drugs are viewed

differently because these drugs are considered recreational drugs, while

Adderall and other ADHD stimulants are considered academic drugs.

Students believe that by taking Adderall they will do better academically,

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May 7, 2017
Written Communications II

and this will make a better life for themselves (Blair). The low perceived

harmfulness of Adderall increases the risk of illicit drug use among college

students (Blair).

According to the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, between

1992 and 2002, the number of prescriptions of ADHD stimulants has

increased by 369% to 23.4 million (Blair). Many students who are prescribed

ADHD medication do not use it every day. Instead, they sell it or share it.

Adderall is generally sold for aroung $6-$8 per pill (Hom). Over the recent

years, there has been a 90% increase in the number of adults who have been

prescribed Adderall (Blair). This has led to the illicit use of the drug on

college campuses. Majority of stimulants being used for illicit use by college

students, come from come from students that are being treated for ADHD

and are sharing or selling their medication (Arria, DuPont). A 2016

study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that nonmedical

use of Adderall by adults had gone up by 67.1 percent and emergency

department visits involving the medication had gone up by 155.9 percent

(Hom).

Students also have falsified ADHD diagnoses. They often exaggerate

symptoms to secure a clinical diagnosis (Blair). Many students report that it

takes less than fifteen minutes and a few simple questions to receive a

prescription for Adderall. There is no objective testing for testing procedure

for an Adderall diagnosis (Blair). This makes it hard for health care
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May 7, 2017
Written Communications II

professionals to have any clear guidelines on who actually need ADHD

stimulants (Blair). As a result, healthcare professionals are very relaxed

about diagnosing ADHD and prescribing Adderall and other stimulants (Blair).

This information suggests that ADHD is being over diagnosed, and Adderall is

being over prescribed.

In conclusion, ADHD stimulants have many negative effects, but there

are many factors that encourage students to use them. Students justify their

use for academic reasons, and are in denial about the harmful physiological

effects and addictive nature of ADHD stimulants.