Prescription Drugs are Being Used at an Alarming Rate by Students to Boost Academic Performance

Students are losing sight of hard work in favor of the “easy A”, according to a recent article. Prescription drugs, like Adderall, are becoming as synonymous as coffee and energy drinks to enable undergraduates to stay on the Dean’s List.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that 6.4 percent of college students who are full-time and between the ages of 18 and 22 have taken some form of study drugs within the past year.

When the traditional caffeine highs fade away, some students are seeking out prescription drugs to help them stay awake all night. Besides Adderall, there are other popular pills to combat sleepiness like Ritalin and Vyvanse. All of these drugs are prescribed to help adults and children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or even narcolepsy.

Often times, these prescription drugs aren’t the first time a student has tried illegal drugs. According to the Administration, Adderall users were as much as three times as likely to have tried marijuana and nearly eight times more likely to have used prescription tranquilizers.

Because Adderall can create a sense of Euphoria, the chances of them triggering addiction are very high. It is similar to the affects of cocaine like a delayed onset and longer high, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

When taken, these stimulant drugs cause the heart rate to increase. This is caused by amphetamine sales, the key ingredient in the drugs. Other side effects are dry mouth, loss of appetite, hallucinations, and chest pains and in some cases, paranoia and psychosis.

Because the user in these cases does not suffer from ADHD, the medicine acts as a high. Over time, it can cause dependency and even a permanent lack of concentration.

Other problems with this medication are its affects when consuming alcohol. Adderall is a stimulant while alcohol is a depressant. The two counteract each other and can lead the user to consume more alcohol than they should and could lead to alcohol poisoning.