Adderall Abuse in College Students

According to Columbia Casa and University of Minnesota (2015), students are facing the demands of coursework, part-time jobs, internships, social obligations and more, many turn to drugs as a way to cope.  More students than ever are taking stimulants, such as Adderall, for example to help students stay awake long enough to study or complete assignments on time. All too often, these prescription drugs are obtained without a legitimate prescription or with legitimate prescription and are selling to friends and others. Students are now exploring many new aspects of their lives and wonder what could come their way. It’s not uncommon for that self-exploration to dip into drug experimentation. Students who are surround themselves with other experimenters that are trying recreational and performance-enhancer drugs are more likely to try these substances for themselves. These habits lead to a drop in a college students academic grade and has been proven to do so. (Addiction Center 2015) According to National Institute on Drug Abuse Young Adults ranging in age 18-25, the abuse of prescription drugs is second only to abuse of

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurological disorder and is mainly diagnosed in childhood, although it can carry on into adulthood. ADHD often occurs in more in males than females. A child with ADHD might daydream, forget or lose things, fidget, talk too much, and having trouble socializing. School can be very challenging for a child with ADHD. A child with ADHD may have trouble concentrating in school, have difficulties reading and writing, and have trouble making friends and socializing.

This is not fair towards students who cannot purchase Adderall. Those students have to work hard and put in all the effort they have to succeed in school, while students who take Adderall are not working a lot less to achieve the same goal.

The number one way students are getting their hands on these different drugs is from the help of their peers. As for prescriptions, others steal it from their

However Adderall has been looked at skeptically for quite some time as a potentially dangerous drug to be using on America’s youth.

With the increased pressure to succeed and the chaotic collegiate lifestyle taking a toll on students, Adderall has evolved into the “go-to drug.” The Class II prescription amphetamine is intended to solely treat individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The stimulant “works to enhance concentration by stimulating the production of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain” (Stolz 585). Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of Adderall on college campuses to enhance academic performance and cram for exams through the over-stimulation of the brain, therefore “creating super-enhanced focus” (Stolz 585), deeming it the “smart drug.” Due to the fact that several students are not truly diagnosed with ADHD, a majority of this use on campuses is illegal; this has become a growing problem affecting the health of students and entailing “issues of competiveness and fairness” (Jacobs 1). In recent years, the abuse of Adderall has circulated hundreds of college campuses and even secondary schools.

According to a 2009 study, white students, Greek organization participation, students with low grade point averages and students who attend competitive schools are the most likely to abuse Adderall (Rabiner). In the same study at Duke University, about eighteen percent of students had taken Adderall at least ten times within six months (Rabiner). In general, these are students that procrastinate or have too much activity worked into their schedule. In a different study from the New Yorker, results showed that users of Adderall were ten times more likely to have smoked marijuana and twenty times more likely to use cocaine (Gillen). The students that take Adderall want to improve poor grades or allow more time to study.

Since reports of Adderall being of such assistance in the academic life of a college student there is no question that the

Meanwhile, only about 4 or 5 percent are treated for it. In the early 2,000’s, Adderall abuse had become a crucial issue amongst students worldwide. According to the Wall Street Journal article, prescriptions for stimulants have risen to 2.6 million a month in 2004, from 1.6 million in 2000. It was recorded that 850,000 of those prescriptions were for Adderall.

Results: Prevalence of Adderall abuse among college students affects approximately 96 universities. College view it as a socially acceptable drug that can further enhance their academic performance.

Increasing the heart rate and the flow of blood to the muscles. As a result of this, the use of Adderall can cause feelings of energy and invigoration, similar to the high experienced by cocaine users. Even when taken as prescribed, Adderall can have several negative effects in the short-term

Although taking study drugs is an attraction to college students, they should stop the use of this drug because it is dangerous to their health, it affects their families, and it also affects the ADHD students who actually need this drug.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD which is often referred to as childhood hyperactivity, it 's a severe and chronic disorder for children. It is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders, and affects 3% to 5% of the school-age population. Boys outnumber girls three or more to one. Children with ADHD can experience many behavioral difficulties that often manifest in the form of inattention, being easily distracted, being impulsive, and hyperactivity. As a result, children with ADHD may develop emotional, social, developmental, academic, and family problems because of the frustrations and problems they are constantly experiencing. (Shea)

1. Sub Point: Baylor University does a nice job of summing up student motives of such drastic behavior in its 2005 article “Study Drugs Still Popular despite Health Risks”.

The disorder ADHD can cause problems for people in school. According to The National Institute of Mental Health, “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood.” ADHD affects the area of the brain that promotes the ability to concentrate on a single task. Those diagnosed with ADHD struggle with completing even simple tasks; their brain wonders in all directions uncontrollably. When it comes to completing