America Runs On...Adderall?

Yes, it is that time of year again! As finals approach, college students everywhere prepare themselves for the insane amount of studying that they will take part in throughout the next few weeks. Many of us have come to terms with the fact that as Thanksgiving break has come to an end, we will soon be temporarily moving into the library or computer lab for the next 2 weeks. Some of us will spend every last drop of our prepaid food bucks or better yet, checking accounts, on coffees, lattes, energy drinks and anything else that can keep our eyes peeled, while other students chose to take a different route. Often times, this route being extremely dangerous to their health.

Adderall abuse has become more and more common with young adults throughout the decade. Many of you may have seen or heard of students selling their prescriptive drugs to other students who want them for reasons such as studying, weight loss, a good high, etc. I often overhear students all the time in classes raving about the prescription drug, and how they can write 10 page papers in a short time span because their level of concentration just sky rockets. Many people feel as if they become Superman when they take it, feeling that they can accomplish so much more than before. While this feeling of accomplishment may be true for some people, they aren’t looking at the entire picture when they pop a pill that isn’t prescribed to them.

The effects of adderall on a person that is actually diagnosed with ADHD are completely different than someone taking the drug without a prescription. Someone without an ADHD disorder can become highly addicted to the substance, which can result in seizures, irregular heartbeat, dangerously high blood pressure etc. I knew a girl at my old school that decided to take a dose of her cousin’s adderall so she could stay up all night to study for an exam, an hour later she ended up in the hospital due to having a seizure on the library floor.

Bottom line is, students need to be more aware of what they put into their bodies. Taking an adderall from your friend’s prescription may to some, seem harmless, but what happens when next semester rolls around and you have your first big exam in physics class? There is a reason adderrall is known to be highly addictive to those who misuse it. If you are not prescribed it, stick to Dunkins!