preview

Adderall Is A Familiar Name That Has Been Around For Years.

Decent Essays

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

Get Access