Are College Students Abusing ADHD Medication?
As a freshman in college, I've heard the term Adderall thrown around quite often, especially during finals week. I've known it to be a stimulant prescription drug used to treat individuals with ADD and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). However, Adderall has become a popular trend among high school and college students who hope to improve their focus and memory. More specifically, students will pop the pills to write a paper or pull an all-nighter studying for their final exams. The pressure students feel about achieving a high GPA indirectly leads them to taking these pills, because they feel that they cannot focus or study without it. Then, it becomes an addictive behavior and students end up abusing Adderall every time they have to study for a test or write a big paper; they depend on and believe that Adderall is the reason for their good grades.
While Adderall is used to decrease impulsivity and increase concentration in ADHD individuals, it tends to do the opposite for non-ADHD individuals. The drug "speeds" you up and allows you to focus better and work efficiently and quickly. And let me ask you this: What college student doesn't want an easier way to earn an A on a paper or a tough exam? The abuse of this drug is nonetheless unethical by providing its users with an unnatural and unfair advantage of performing better in school than its non-users.
Students not diagnosed with ADD or ADHD need to realize that while Adderall remains an omnipresent drug on campus and in school, it is still an unprescribed drug and is considered a crime. On the worse end, Adderall can also lead to the following side effects: heartbeat irregularities, weight loss, insomnia, and seizures.
All in all, it's best that students veer away from the temptations of Adderall and realize the harmful effects that come along with abusing the drug. I feel that if you manage your time wisely, you shouldn't be urged to take pills every time you have to study for an exam. Do you think colleges should take steps to inform students on the risk of addiction and negative health effects that accompany Adderall? Do you know anyone who has abused the drug?
Source: http://www.chsarrow.com/student-life/2010/12/14/adderall-addicts-are-all-around-america/
I strongly believe that colleges should be educating us on this topic. We all went through extensive online programs to educate us about the temptations of alcohol but I was completely caught off guard when I first learned about people taking Adderall. I've learned at U of M that it's a big problem on campuses and this needs to be addressed. If more people were forewarned about the negative effects of the drug, then I think that less people would be tempted to use it.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post, and I think it is very much needed for colleges to inform students about the risks of Adderall.Another reason why people don’t seem to think taking Adderall is such a big problem necessarily is because it is, after all, a prescription drug. However, it is a prescription drug that is only to be taken by the person whom it was prescribed to and in the recommended doses and anything that deviates from that is classified as drug abuse. The stigma around taking illicit street drugs is not like taking Adderall at all. First people need to realize that just because it is prescribed and can be of benefit to some people, does not make it okay to use if you aren’t the one prescribed it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this relates to your other post on how doctors could be overprescribing their patients due to excessive advertising. Drugs are excessively advertised, to the point that people become convinced that they have a problem, even when they don’t, because they are able to relate to a few symptoms of the condition that the drug treats. Additionally, I think another aspect that leads to over-prescription of Adderall specifically is that people go to psychiatrists and purposely mimic symptoms that people with ADD/ADHD have in order to persuade their doctors that they also have a condition that requires Adderall. Unfortunately, obtaining Adderall outside of a doctor’s office has become incredibly easy and many doctors are too quick to write prescriptions for Adderall.
I wonder if the general public thinks taking Adderall when you aren’t the one prescribed it or if taking it in a higher dosage than prescribed is classified as drug abuse? Do you think Adderall actually makes you “smarter” or is it a temporary illusion?
I had a friend who would study for two days straight for an exam while taking 3 to 4 pills of Adderall and still be functional the following day. In my mind, that is just not human. I agree with the idea that Adderall is a drug that is abused among students for personal gains, in this case, receiving a good grade on an exam. I also agree with Leah's comment that we should also get educated on the uses of Adderall when we get lectured on alcohol usage. I believe these two problems are big among American students this century especially.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your stance on this topic. I think it is also important to call all students that suffer from ADD or ADHD to refrain from sharing their Adderall. I have many friends who are prescribed Adderall and have no problem sharing with their friends. Many students believe that sharing their pills is just helping their friends. Using any sort of medication without doctoral direction can be dangerous. All college students should be aware of the danger they are putting themselves in.
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