More students misusing stimulants during stress

What student hasn’t had trouble keeping awake in class these days? With papers and projects piling up, and exams coming up, more and more students are getting stressed and lacking sleep.

Most students I know have been drinking lots of coffee and energy drinks with their late night studying. But a growing number of students – 50 to 35 per cent college / 8 to 10 per cent high school students – are using stimulants like ADHD drugs to keep up with the stress, particularly during exam time. What’s more alarming from these findings is that 25 percent of high school and grade school students are approached by friends to use their medication.

Specialists at the University of Michigan Health System warn that misuse of stimulants can lead to depression, irritability, stomachaches and headaches. Serious abuse of these drugs can lead to very dangerous side effects, including hypertension and stroke. Too much caffeine from coffee or energy drinks can cause harm too – jitters, anxiety, increased heart rate, high blood pressure or even hyperthermia and stoke.

What can students do to cope with academic pressure? Don’t cram. Now of course that’s easier said than done. How can parents help? Teach children what to say if they are being offered medication by their friends. Ask children how they are especially as exam time approaches. Talking may help to relieve the tension they’re feeling, and give a parent clues to signs of depression or stimulant abuse. Other than doing their homework for them, parents can do a lot to help – research in the library or gather materials for projects, practice with them, establish an study-for-exams schedules in the weekends, make their favorite comfort food, go out and breathe an hour of fresh air and sunshine, or massage their backs.