Adderall is a familiar name that has been around for years. It is typically used for medical purposes for people with disorders such as ADHD and narcolepsy. It is a necessary drug for those who need it. However, in the last decade, it has become more than just a drug to calm those who are hyper or keep someone with a sleeping disorder up. It is being used by college students to keep them awake whether it is in class, for a test, to study late at night, and regular citizens in the country are abusing it. College students and citizens are abusing the drug and it has major affect with it, especially if they were not prescribed it. However, knowing where Adderall originated from, what it is intended for, and the side effects of the drug must …show more content…
Before people abused Adderall, it was initially used for disorders such as ADHD and narcolepsy. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a, “neurobehavioral disorder that is defined by persistent and maladaptive symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention3”. A report that was released in November of 2013, showed that around, “11 percent of children aged 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives. In adults, the rate is much lower (about 4 percent)4”. However, researchers advise that because the numbers may be higher than what was stated since adults that were not treated in their childhood are more likely to stay untreated. People that suffer from ADHD often have serious problems in school and communicating with others. It is also connected with various conditions such as mood, demeanor, and learning disorders. Narcolepsy is another common condition that is treated with Adderall. It is categorized as a sleeping disorder which causes, “excessive sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and in some cases episodes of cataplexy (partial or total loss of muscle control, often triggered by a strong emotion such as laughter)5”. The disorder occurs correspondingly in men and women and researchers think that it affects about one in two-thousand people. In the brains of those with narcolepsy, “the cluster of cells that produce hypocretin—located in a region called the hypothalamus—is damaged or completely destroyed5”. In
The Clinton foundation reports that between the years 1993 and 2006, the magnitude of college students who use prescription stimulants, such as Adderall and Ritalin, has increased by 93%, which suggests that Adderall usage in universities are at a record high (Clinton 2015). According to the National Institute of health, cognitive enhancing drugs are pharmaceuticals that are taken to improve one’s memory, learning, focus, attention, and other cognitive skills (Mehlman 2004). Adderall is a central nervous stimulant that is prescribed by a primary physician for treating medical conditions such as narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Smith). Alan Desantis, a professor at the University of Kentucky, conducted a research
Drug overdose from medications designed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are on the rise. This is likely due to an overwhelming amount of children, nearly 3 million, prescribed medication for ADHD each year (Spiller, Hays, & Aleguas, 2013). ADHD affects nearly 10% of the national population and is rising due to newer diagnostic criteria (Levine, et al., 2013). In the past, ADHD was only diagnosed in school aged children, but new studies suggest that diagnosis can be made in the preschool age as well (Levine, et al., 2013). Because of the new age criteria affecting more young children, the number of prescription of ADHD drugs will rise each year which will increase the amount of ADHD prescription overdose (Adis, 2014).
Susie Lomelino “[it] is a drug widely reported to increase alertness, concentration and overall cognitive performance, while decreasing fatigue – but it is also a drug widely abused across college campuses” (Highly Addictive Nature of Prescription 1). “Adderall is a synthetic drug that contains a combination of amphetamine salts. Approximately 72.7 percent of Adderall is made of lisdexamfetamine (Vyanse), and the rest is levoamphetamin” (Moore 90). Adderall is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (Adderall 1).
When growing up, nothing is more frustrating then giving your best effort in your school work and continuously being unsuccessful. The effect it can have on a child is very damaging. Students may feel inadequate and non-intelligent in the classroom setting growing up, not to mention, being confused all at the same time about why school is such an ongoing battle for them. Why are these children trying so hard and never having any success? It is more and more common today; more than ever we see children having these problems inside and outside of classrooms all over the world. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can become very problematic in a child’s
Unfortunately, students are being deceived by the stimulant drug’s valuable qualities, masking the serious, detrimental effects that the drug induces. Even worse, contributing to Adderall’s extensive abuse across campuses, “instead of condemnation it is implicitly being praised and validated by parents and students who view these drugs as a means of academic
I chose to do my RX Assignment on a common prescribed drug called Adderall. Adderall is mainly used for patients that suffer Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD. It may be used for those that suffer from a disorder called narcolepsy, a tendency to fall asleep without awareness during daytime several times. Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine are the generic names for Adderall. There are no tests to prove that one has ADHD, instead a psychiatrist must be seen and numerous amount of information must be given to the psychiatrist about the patient, practically their life story.
Reference: Varga, M. D. (2012). Adderall Abuse on College Campuses: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 9(3), 293-313. doi:10.1080/15433714.2010.525402
The use of Adderall is steadily increasing everywhere and ex-specially in colleges. Students are continually pushed and pushed by the people and the things in their life’s that are driving them to be in school and to maintain certain grades to achieve their goals. With all this presser to do good in
This paper will look into one of the most commonly used and sought for drugs found on college campuses in the world today. Adderall and other forms of the “smart drug” have become more and more popular when it comes to students and young professionals trying to get an advantage. It will discuss both the positive and negative side effects of taking these smart pills along with the specific affects/reasons for ingesting them whether they are prescribed or not.
Talbot describes the uses of the stimulates to stay awake to power through long nights to complete papers or deadlines, as well as to take lengthy exams (2009). Several testimonials are provides in “Brain Gain” of students that use Adderall for these very reasons in their schooling career (Talbot, 2009). Using the stimulate has led to abuse problems by the users, leading them to experience harsh side effects such as lack of appetite and loss of sleep (Talbot, 2009). Talbot (2009) mentions the label on the amphetamine warns of a “high potential for abuse” for the user! The author emphasizes the growing and evident issue of Adderall being taken for nonmedical reasons to act as a quick fix for those needing an enhancement to their cognitive abilities (Talbot,
Nearly five years ago, Kyle Craig, a well-rounded and bright student at Vanderbilt University, took his life at the young age of 21. Kyle was described to be a “confident, but not arrogant” young man. He had a solid 3.5 grade point average and was extremely active in his fraternity. His parents said he was, “…a thrill a minute, focused, happy, achieving and social” (James). Kyle, in short, seemed to have it all together. What no one knew is that Kyle illegally looked to Adderall to keep up his “I’ve got it all together” act. Adderall is a stimulant prescription drug for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD (FDA). Kyle took Adderall illegally and abused it much too often just to perform better academically and socially. While abusing the drug, Kyle slowly began spiraling into a dangerous state of psychosis that no one seemed to catch on to. That dangerous spiral led Kyle all the way in front of a train, taking his own life (James). Kyle is not the only young college student to suffer from the effects of stimulant or amphetamine drugs like Adderall. Almost 1,000 cases of psychosis were found to be linked to medications such as Adderall or Ritalin between the years 2000 and 2005 (FDA). Stimulant and Amphetamines are also known to heighten or produce suicidal and depressive thoughts (FDA). With all of these unsettling facts, 1 in 5 college students abuse these drugs and use them as study aids (CBN News). For the last
As stated in the article, "Adderall Abuse Alters Brain, Claims a Young Life" James claims “Selling or giving away these drugs may harm others, and is against the law, as well” (James 8). This claim, supported by FDA spokesmen, implies that the selling or giving away of these drugs without a prescription or right to do so is an illegal act. When these drugs are taken by college students who do not have a prescription, they are commencing in the act of buying and using drugs. These drugs are treated as illegal, just like mainstream drugs, not only will it risk health, but also if caught with these drugs it will have the same consequences. The article “Adderall Legal Status” by Addiction blog states that it is illegal to have or dispense Adderall without a prescription, and those who sell or use it illegally get penalized (Addiction Blog 2). This statement means that whoever uses Adderall without prescription is committing a crime which can be punished by law. This proves that taking Adderall without having the right to is an illegal act that can be penalized. So every time one takes this drug to improve their performance in college, they are committing a
With prolonged use of Adderall or amphetamines, there is a higher potential for abuse due to the dopamine in the drug. A user may become dependent on the drug whether it is prescribed or not, which is why it is monitored so closely by the physician. There are some serious adverse effects of prolonged incorrect use of amphetamines which includes sudden death and serious cardio vascular dysfunction (Benson, 2015).
Ritalin is currently prescribed to approximately six million people in the US. Of those six million, 75% of these are children, with boys receiving Ritalin about four times more often than girls. Ritalin is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It interacts with chemicals in the brain and nerves that give way to hyperactivity and impulse control. Not only is Ritalin used to treat ADD and ADHD, it is also used to treat a sleeping disorder called Narcolepsy, which is an uncontrollable desire to sleep, but there is another drug that given just as Ritalin, and it is called Adderall. Adderall is almost the exact same as Ritalin except it actually enters the cell and helps it produce more dopamine.
To add to that, the research that has been conducted on the disorder has led to a variety of effective treatments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2014) the most widely used medication is a stimulant. There is a wide variety of stimulants available for ADHD subjects. Although, with these stimulants come side effects including sleep problems, decreased appetite, anxiety and other diverse uncommon side effects (NIMH, 2014). Stimulants tend to calm children with ADHD. However, these medications can be detrimental to the patient in many ways. Certain medications have been subject to abuse, including Adderall and Ritalin. These medications are in some cases abused by patients who are over diagnosed. Since these patients do not have the disorder they can feel the side effects and use the drug to achieve a certain kind of high. When using these drugs for non-medical purposes they can seem to replicate the effects of cocaine