Millions of American teens and young adults are diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The stimulant prescriptions most commonly used to subdue such apparent conditions are drugs like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin and a few others. Sadly, such prescriptions—being that they are classified similarly to cocaine in terms of their habit-forming qualities—are abused both at parties and as study drugs. All the many causes for such dangerous substance abuse are vast and plentiful, but the main reasons for academic pill abuse are not hard to spell out.
Adderall as a “Study Drug” for Teens and College Students
Drugs that are generally intended for youth and students to “improve academic performance,” are referred to as academic drugs. The term “study drug” is used to describe misuse of the substance by those who are not diagnosed as ADD or ADHD, yet use the stimulant pharmaceuticals anyway.
College campuses today are infamously rampant with these medications—most students admit they have either taken the drug or know where/from whom they could easily get some pills.
Whether to burn the midnight oil before an exam or just to party, Adderall and other stimulant drugs (Ritalin, Vyvanse, etc.) provide (for most people) a temporary alertness and a burst of energy. These desirable experiences are then followed by a mental hangover which can loom for days.
Despite the fact that the DEA classifies Adderall within the same category as cocaine, it is not widely known that the prescription is dangerously habit-forming and addictive.
Factors That Drive Stimulant Pill Misuse
As academic study aids, stimulant prescriptions like Adderall are abused for a few key purposes. Some of the main reasons for academic pill abuse are:
1. A desire for “safe” experimentation with drugs
2. To feel good or temporarily increase energy and focus
3. To fit in amongst one’s peers
4. Weight loss (commonly amongst girls)
Sadly, the “hangover” from stimulant pills includes depression, anxiety, sleeplessness and/or changes to one’s normal sleep schedule.
Prevention and Treatment of Prescription Stimulant Addiction
Although some elementary and high school drug prevention and education programs contain a fairly comprehensive rundown of street drugs (marijuana, cocaine, meth, etc.), few take the time to educate youth on the dangers of prescription “study drugs” like Adderall and Ritalin. As a result kids see other kids taking the drugs with a legal prescription and think that these pills can’t be dangerous or addictive.
In fact many thousands of teens across the nation admit to abusing (crushing and snorting) their Adderall or pills purchased from a friend, yet doctors continue to distribute the drug by the ton each year. This makes the drugs more and more available and easier to abuse.
However with all of this said there are ways to stop academic pill abuse. The first thing a person should do is take the time to educate yourself and your friends/family about stimulant prescription pharmaceuticals. Understand the risks of stimulant pills and request that your local schools include such information in their drug education programs. Parents should let their kids know about the dangers of taking these kinds of medications and the consequences and risks associated with addiction.
For those who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD or other mental illnesses there are ways to find alternative treatments to such mental conditions as ADD and ADHD. As with any medical condition, most healthcare providers encourage you seek a second or third opinion before accepting a prescription drug with widely known risks.
If you notice a student abusing these drugs get them immediate help. For more information contact Narconon now.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951617/
