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Contrary to popular belief, not all drugs ingested by college students are utilized for a reckless night of partying. In fact, Adderall, the leading drug of choice among college-aged students, is often used as a studying enhancer when homework loads increase toward the end of the semester.
An anonymous student recalled his first experience with Adderall, stressing the burden of finals week as the cause of his curiosity. At the end of his first semester as a freshman, the student decided to give the drug a try.
“I had a lot to get done, and I heard that it was good,” the student recalled. “It’s awesome. It should be in the water supply.”
Adderall is a psychostimulant frequently known for its use in treating attention deficit disorder (ADD), but it is sometimes prescribed to treat certain cases of depression. The drug often helps individuals with ADD calm down and focus on individual tasks. Because of Adderall’s ability to enhance memory and performance function, high school and college students frequently misuse the drug.
The student described being on Adderall as, “[drinking] entirely too much caffeine while also believing that you’re going to get done whatever you set your mind to.”
According to CNN, a study conducted by Professor Alan DeSantis at the University of Kentucky showed that 30 percent of students have illegally used the stimulant, claiming that the numbers increased with upperclassmen and fraternity and sorority students, up to 80 percent.
The most common side effects associated with Adderall are paranoia, loss of appetite and sleep deprivation, but the U.S. government’s classification of Adderall as a schedule II drug also indicates its potential to be habit-forming.
“I didn’t eat for a couple of days, which was cool because I was fat at the time,” the student said. “I didn’t sleep, which was good because I had a lot to get done, and I remember everything that I read or wrote down, and I was efficient.”
Despite the loss of appetite and sleep, the student contends that, overall, Adderall doesn’t have any noticeable side effects, even after long-term use.
“I don’t see there being any negative side effects,” the student said. “I had a little bit of a withdrawal issue toward the end of last semester, but I started taking it regularly and stopped quickly.”
After receiving promising results at the end of his freshman year, the student began to use Adderall with increased frequency, claiming to consume the drug whenever he could get his hands on it, eventually leading up to an intense “breakfast regime.”
“My roommate and I will take 50 milligrams with two Rock Stars for breakfast, repeated every two hours whenever we have a lot to do,” the student said.
CNN also quoted Dr. Raymond Kotwicki at Emroy University who claims Adderall can create a certain level of euphoria that leads to increased dependency in ensuring strong academic performance.
“You’re on top of the world. It’s limitless,” the student said. “You are three steps ahead of everybody and everything around you.”
The student also noted that he sometimes uses Adderall for reasons other than academic enhancement, blending the drug in with a typical night of partying.
“Sometimes it’s recreational,” the student said. “If you’re drinking, and you have a stimulant like Adderall, you just take it, and all of a sudden you’re sober again.”
The combination of alcohol (a depressant) and Adderall (a stimulant) is a common concern among health professionals who claim that Adderall hinders an individual’s ability to gauge the amount of alcohol he or she has ingested, resulting in potentiallly life-threatening scenarios of over-consumption.
For now, the student is content continuing to use Adderall as a studying supplement and recreational drug, but he does plan on weaning off the drug in future years.
“At the end of the day, I can still get my homework done. It’s more of a confidence booster than anything,” the student said. “I plan on stopping. It’s just a college fad, like smoking weed at this point.”
cferganc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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