College Students Abusing “Smart Drugs”

On NPR this morning there was a segment on “smart drugs” or “study drugs” on college campuses. This isn’t a new issue, but it’s still an important issue. One that we need to continually talk to our college-age kids about.

College students are using Adderall (or it’s cousin Ritalin) to help them study. Adderall and Ritalin are commonly prescribed to kids with Attention-deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD). It helps a person stay on task, boosts concentratioin, and helps him/her stay focused. All things college students are looking for when studying for a big test.

One girl said “Addy” (as college students often refer to it as) helped her feel motivated and not restless. She felt like she could focus on her homework without longing to watch television or get distracted by the radio. She went on to say with “Addy” she doesn’t feel jittery or anxious like she does with a big cup of coffee.

College students say they can get the drug just about anywhere; the library, the cafeteria, the dorms. Students who have a legitimate prescription sell their stash rather than taking the pills themselves. A student can get one pill for around $5 except during exam time when the price hikes up to around $25 a pill due to supply and demand. So it’s easy to get, it’s fairly cheap, and it gives kids the results they are looking for.

But it is still a drug and, as with any drug, there are some pretty serious side effects. It can cause “severe sleep deprivation, rare heart problems…and it can be addicting.” My son doesn’t take Adderall, but he does take medication for ADHD and there are many other side effects that weren’t mentioned in this piece, including:

• loss of appetite,
• dry mouth,
• headaches,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• weight loss,
• diarrhea,
• confusion,
• chest tightness,
• heart Palpitations,
• depression,
• aggressive behavior, and
• suicidal thoughts.

Plus it can be a precursor to abusing other prescription drugs. Or even illegal drugs. With habit forming drugs like Adderall kids feel like they need their fix.

Another student said using Adderall is kind of like cheating, “It takes away your own coping skills and your own ability to evolve your own study skills and work ethic. So it’s kind of an easy way out.” Teens need to learn good study habits and not rely on a drug to help them get good grades.