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Little Blue Pills
The Use Of "Study Drugs" Is On The Rise, But Cramming For Exams With Adderall May Be More Trouble Than It's Worth
Timothy Bleasdale
Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: Finals Extra
As students across campus gear up for finals, many will be asking themselves one question: how can I manage to learn all this stuff in time for the exam? For some, the answer might simply be a series of trips to Starbucks. But a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University suggests that students are increasingly turning to controlled stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin to help them make it through exams.
Between 1993 and 2005 the proportion of students abusing these prescription drugs has risen 93 percent, according to CASA.
Adderall and Ritalin are amphetamines prescribed to treat people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to the Adderall XR Web site, the drug works as a stimulant to the central nervous system by increasing the amount of two neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine, in the body. These chemicals improve attention and dampen noise distraction while enhancing executive operations and increasing inhibition.
With these benefits it's easy to understand why some students choose to turn to Adderall and other stimulants to give them an edge while cramming for finals.
"The exam I was studying for wasn't in my major and the subject material was incredibly boring so I took [Adderall] to stay awake while I studied," said Roxanne, a 7th-semester political science major whose name has been changed to protect her identity. "It was an incredible help on the exam."
However, the benefits of these little pills, which Roxanne explains can be easily purchased from other students in the library, are not without cost.
"These drugs are stimulants and should only be taken under medical supervision," said Tom Szigethy, director of Alcohol and Other Drug Services. "They will increase the heart rate and tax the circulatory system. If a person has any issue with their circulatory system or heart, these medications can compound the issue potentially causing irreparable damage or death."
Between 1993 and 2005 the proportion of students abusing these prescription drugs has risen 93 percent, according to CASA.
Adderall and Ritalin are amphetamines prescribed to treat people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to the Adderall XR Web site, the drug works as a stimulant to the central nervous system by increasing the amount of two neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine, in the body. These chemicals improve attention and dampen noise distraction while enhancing executive operations and increasing inhibition.
With these benefits it's easy to understand why some students choose to turn to Adderall and other stimulants to give them an edge while cramming for finals.
"The exam I was studying for wasn't in my major and the subject material was incredibly boring so I took [Adderall] to stay awake while I studied," said Roxanne, a 7th-semester political science major whose name has been changed to protect her identity. "It was an incredible help on the exam."
However, the benefits of these little pills, which Roxanne explains can be easily purchased from other students in the library, are not without cost.
"These drugs are stimulants and should only be taken under medical supervision," said Tom Szigethy, director of Alcohol and Other Drug Services. "They will increase the heart rate and tax the circulatory system. If a person has any issue with their circulatory system or heart, these medications can compound the issue potentially causing irreparable damage or death."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
susan
posted 12/10/07 @ 12:18 PM EST
The mental health department on campus is woefully inadequate to help students through this difficult period. Hogan may worry about shooters on campus but he does litle to help with the legion of anxious students that might benefit from some anxiety relief therapy. (Continued…)
Justin Moffatt
posted 12/10/07 @ 8:23 PM EST
Interesting that as this article was written "Instead of illegally taking Adderall or Ritalin, Szigethy suggests students pace themselves to get the rest they need. (Continued…)
j
posted 12/11/07 @ 8:09 PM EST
The comparison to athletes using steroids was good....except you could also claim that students using caffeine to help study can also be compared.
The bad thing about steroids is that it puts those who don't use it because its bad for their body at a disadvantage. (Continued…)
Igt slot machine
posted 12/16/08 @ 11:44 AM EST
Very intresting topic!
220-601
posted 3/31/09 @ 12:52 AM EST
Interesting post. Thanks for sharing.
Gary Winnick
220-601
posted 3/31/09 @ 1:00 AM EST
Really informative post. Thanks for sharing.
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