Adderall, a drug intended to treat those suffering from Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder, has become a highly recreational drug, especially among students on the UTM campus.
To find a student who illegally consumes Adderall is as simple as walking inside the Paul Meek Library on any given night during the semester. During finals week, the likelihood increases drastically.
“It’s too easy to get to not use,” UTM Student One said.
Adderall, commonly referred to as “the Study Drug,” is a prescription amphetamine intended for a specific purpose. Adderall, in its most honest form is used as a stimulant for people with the inability to focus and for the treatment of narcolepsy. However, some UTMstudents without an ADHD diagnosis look to this drug to increase their efficiency during finals week.
“The benefits are great; I stay awake and get things done; it helps me stay concentrated,” Student One said.
According to a survey completed by PubMed, 10.4 percent of students surveyed had either tried a stimulant, like Adderall, or are currently using prescription stimulants illegally; the most common reason for stimulant use was to focus and concentrate during studying.
How do students without the prescriptions get their hands on the drugs in the first place? Some students that are prescribed the drug may not actually need it and so they have “extra pills” to share with friends or neighbors and sometimes, they will even sell to strangers.
“I have a prescription and I have sold pills before to people I know and talk to regularly; if a friend asks then I will usually just give them one without a charge,” UTM Student Two said.
Possessing Adderall without a prescription or selling the drug illegally is considered a fifth-degree felony that has the ability to land the person in prison for 12 months along with a fine of up to $2,500. The seriousness of the drug is something students often do not take into consideration.
“I don’t have a prescription, but I get Adderall from a friend every day that I have class or something due,” Student One said.
The benefit of Adderall for those without a prescription is something that many doctors are working to dispute. However, many students continue to self medicate after being denied the drug by health care officials.
“I’ve tried to get a prescription for it, but I wasn’t able to even though there are a lot of benefits for me, like staying awake, getting tasks completed, [having] a good mood and staying focused on one thing rather than jumping around,” Student One said.
Because of the nature of the drug, several sources say that Adderall could potentially exhibit some addictive qualities. According to medications.com, this drug impacts the brain’s mesolimbic reward pathways, making it a highly addictive substance. Because of this, the FDA has classified Adderall as a controlled substance.
“I’m not addicted, but then again isn’t that what every addict says? I only use it to study so I don’t think I’m addicted; I think I could physically do it without Adderall, but I would need some energy drinks or something to make me motivated some days,” Student One said.
