College is more than a place; it’s a time that mixes the formulas for adolescence and adulthood and creates the combustible solution that we like to call life. For some people, this combustion acts as an energy surge. For others, the combustion is an overwhelming explosion of matter.
The biggest part of that struggle is figuring how to cope with it at all. Everyone seems to have advice—ask for help, ease up your workload, have a beer, just relax, take a day off―and one of the most popular ones: “Try this. It’ll help you focus.”
What is “this” you may ask? Well, “this” is no game. It’s Adderall, and no, it is not harmless medication; it is much more than that.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1.7 percent of full-time college students in 2013 used prescription stimulants, including Adderall, for nonmedical use.
Adderall is a drug often given to people who have narcolepsy or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which work to stimulate brain and nerve chemicals to better manage hyperactivity and impulse control. In other words, it prevents you from getting so easily distracted from the cats running outside, the random person singing in the hallway and the million and one thoughts running through your head.
“There’s definitely a significant amount of use and abuse of Adderall,” said Karl Backman, NSU’s psychiatrist for NSU student counseling services. “Over the past 5 or 10 years, Adderall has become a lot more prominent due to media coverage, the internet and more access to partial knowledge about the drug itself. Pharmaceutical companies do too good of a job publicizing the medication.”
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, it is a Schedule II substance, which classifies it as having a high potential for psychological or physical dependence. It is on the same schedule as cocaine, oxycodone, methamphetamines and Ritalin.
Nick Thompson, freshman business administration major, said he knows college students who have taken Adderall to focus on their academics. He said most of those people either bought the pills from a friend with a prescription for ADHD or they had a prescription themselves. Of those who had a prescription, he said there are only a few who didn’t actually have ADHD or a similar issue.
“People swear that they can focus better when they take Adderall,” Thompson said. “For most people, grades are really important, and they don’t see Adderall as harmful if it helps them get good grades.”
Based on national surveys conducted from 2002 to 2013, SAMHSA found that, on average, approximately 400 college students try prescription stimulants for the first time every day. They found that the peak months for this data is in April, November and December, with more than 500 new users a day.
Coincidentally, those are generally the months during which college midterms and finals take place. The months that mark the beginning of fall and winter terms, as well the summer months, are well underneath the national average. This data shows that as the academic term ensues, the more likely students are to take the drug.
Backman said that Henderson Student Counseling is aware of people exhibiting fake ADHD symptoms to get Adderall prescriptions. To help combat the problem, the center requires that students submit previous medical records, have significant documentation of ADHD and partake in physical exams and EKG scans to ensure they are in good health to fight off side effects. If the student doesn’t have sufficient documentation, Backman requires psychological testing.
Research has shown that Adderall is most prevalent among upperclassmen. Anthony Bufi, senior athletic training major, said he knows numerous students who have taken the drug and that he’s noticed a lot more cases of Adderall use over his years in undergrad.
“The demand from academics is a lot more now than it has been in previous years,” he said. “Some students may just be taking it to keep up with their course load, but I think it’s definitely becoming more prevalent.”
Bufi said that for the most part, the people he knows get the medication to help with their ADHD, but some people fake the symptoms to get a prescription. He believes the reason for this is the academic stress students endure as they get closer to graduation.
“Now, there are more jobs that require you to have a master’s or even doctoral degree, which makes undergrad a lot more stressful,” he said. “As you get more involved in your major, there’s a bigger course load and more responsibilities, especially when it comes to deciding what you’re going to do after graduation.”
Although people report the drug does help them focus on their studies, there are numerous side effects that don’t get as much attention. WebMD states that side effects of the drug include appetite loss, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headaches, sleeping complications and an increase in blood pressure. More serious effects include numbness or pain in fingers or toes, mood and behavioral changes, uncontrolled movements and change in libido.
Thompson said that for one of his friends, the side effects were dangerously noticeable.
“A friend of mine continuously took a large dosage of Adderall to get a lot of work done,” he said. “He ended up staying awake for 72 hours. The human body isn’t meant to be up for such a long amount of time, and it kind of made him go crazy until he could finally get some rest.”
Backman said that while Adderall does increase motivation and focus in the short-term, after the medication wears off people experience low energy and poor motivation and focus. He also said that the more students take the drug, the more likely they are to get addicted.
“After a while, it affects your brain so you can’t focus as well as you would have if you never took it,” he said. “If you haven’t been prescribed, it’s not a good idea to take it because there are numerous side effects, it’s very addictive and it’s illegal to take narcotics without a prescription.”
Although life’s difficulties are different for everyone, there’s no denying that growing up is hard to do. The mental, emotional and physical transition into adulthood is challenging. When this transition is partnered with mastering higher-education, it can quickly seem nearly impossible to get through with your sanity still intact. The struggle is real, and so is the pressure for success.
Backman recommends that students who are, or are considering, Adderall for academic reasons attempt to make behavioral modifications first.
“There are a lot of concerns regarding the addictive potential and side effects that people are not aware of. Although you may feel like it helps you in the short term, it really doesn’t benefit you in the long term,” he said. “Healthy eating, proper sleep, vitamins, regular cardiovascular exercise and removing distractions from your study environment are key to helping you study more effectively.”
“People just have to ask for help and be proactive,” Bufi said. “If you know you’re struggling, just ask for help.”
