With finals and projects crammed into a week’s time, students just can’t seem to avoid the prolonged lines at the local coffee shop. Caffeine is a hell of a drug that can certainly get you through those all-nighters, which as you might already know, could have been avoided if not for those long nights out at the local bar. It’s a quick fix for procrastinated study time. But who’s to blame – this is college, right? Well, it turns out that caffeine isn’t the only substance students abuse in order to avoid going astray with their studies. I’m talking about a little pill you can swallow that can give you an “I can study ten weeks’ worth of notes within the first hour of Schindler’s List while still feeling jolly all around” kind of feeling. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen – I’m talking about Adderall, and it doesn’t necessarily come with that description.
Adderall, as you may already know, is also known as the academic steroid, which consists of ingredients such as dextroamphetamine, amphetamine, and other amphetamine salts that I still have trouble pronouncing, much less understanding their chemical nomenclature. However, what I can tell you is that Adderrall is a brand-name amphetamine most commonly prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, in patients who struggle with simple, focus-requiring tasks – such as studying. All in all, Adderall is an effective medication when prescribed to those who need it. So what does this mean for the rest of the world who, fortunately, do not suffer from ADHD?
There has been quite a stir amongst our fellow peers about whether or not students should consume un-prescribed medication such as Adderall in order to enhance their academic motor skills. But does it really matter, if Bobby from Chem 112A gets an A+ on his final with a little help from his encapsulated friend? There has got to be some consequences to your pal’s consumption in order to justify your trolling right? Well, look no further: although it is indeed a criminal offense to consume and/or distribute Adderall without the appropriate paperwork, the worst is not necessarily the risk of incarceration – although that still is kind of a downer. The U.S. DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) has labeled Adderall a Schedule II controlled substance, making it a high potential for abuse, severe restrictions, and, most importantly, severe psychological or physical dependence.
Other schedule II controlled substances listed are Opium, Morphine, Codeine, Cocaine, Methamphetamine and a lot more of those words that end with “ine.” Aside from being labeled alongside the hardest of “hard” drugs, Adderall carries some adverse effects, which might just make you reconsider the next time you think about indulging in some of your buddy’s “prescribed” medication. Some common side effects include nausea, weakness, weight loss, nervousness, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pains, and headaches, just to name a few. As for the more severe side effects, they include tightness in chest, painful or frequent urination, sexual impotence for us young bucks, worsening mental or mood swings such as agitation, aggression, anxiety, delusions, depression, and, oh –did I forget to mention sexual impotence? Well, truthfully, there is a huge list of “possible” side effects, but who am I to judge and say whether or not Adderall consumption for the un-prescribed individual is wrong? Quite frankly, it’s not my business; however, personally I must say that ADHD is a pain in the ass to live with. So where do we stand on the matter? Should you continue pretending you are worried about an individual’s health? Is it fair that some of your fellow students indulge in the academic steroid in order to progress in their studies? Or should you live and let live? After all, it’s not your body but theirs.
-Abraham Lopez
http://www.ritalindeath.com/adderall-side-effects.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall#Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000166/#
I didn’t really get a lot out of this. As someone who takes Adderall I know it’s not some sort of magical drug that makes you do well on tests. What I do know it that is works with your brain to boost it’s reward system making studying more interesting. If we are talking about safety we should remember that students are not the first ones to utilize this drug: truck drivers have been taking speed for decades, major sports athletes use is to enhance performance, and militaries distribute amphetamines to soldiers to maintain focus and awareness. If we are talking about ethics, talk about how it boosts short term memory but not long term memory making it effective for cramming but not so much for long term retention. It is notable that we are one of the only countries which prescribes this medication. Medically I don’t find the risks to be that horrible – comparable to say alcohol which people drink everyday. It’s not really enjoyable to take, so I think that helps to counteract some of the addictive qualities. I suppose I’m against other people taking it as a study drug, but I think a lot of the myths about it should go away.
-on safety:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rational_scale_to_assess_the_harm_of_drugs_(mean_physical_harm_and_mean_dependence).svg
I agree with you on the fact that the myths should go away, however, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s comparable to alchohol either. You can build a tolerance with alchohol, not meth. Also given the fact you take adderall yourself, I’m assuming it’s because you actually need it, and not because you want to enhance or boost your ability to concentrate. So if the medication does what it is supposed to do, you should be feeling pretty normal. However, not everyone is prescribed this medication and when they take it they’re actually above the norm. It’s actually an upper to some people which unfortunately can turn into an addiction as a result of substance abuse, which I personally think is the worst of possible side effects.
You do build up a tolerance though, very fast. If you use it to get high you will need to keep upping the dose.