Everyone has seen the movies and television shows that portray college as one giant, messy alcohol and drug-ridden party with students who are constantly drinking, vomiting and doing other things that they shouldn't. But did you know that alcohol and recreational drugs aren't the only things being abused on college campuses? Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, which includes Adderall. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the abuse of prescription drugs is second only to the abuse of marijuana.
Adderall is an amphetamine-based prescription medication usually used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). You have to be prescribed this medication by a physician, but many people who have the prescription are making it easier for others who don't need it to obtain it. The pills are used as a type of currency or barter system. Sometimes they can be sold for as much as $25 a pill. The internet also helps people to obtain it. I recently read a story written by a girl who was addicted to Adderall during her junior year at Harvard. She easily tricked the doctor into writing her a prescription simply by googling symptoms of ADHD ten minutes before her appointment so she would know exactly the right things to say.
College students are using Adderall as a "study drug." For example, one would take it when they have an important exam approaching and want to study for hours on end. There's a common misconception though. Students think that Adderall will improve their studying and the amount of information they retain, but according to a University of Pennsylvania study, it's only proven to enhance a person's drive rather than the quality of cognition or work.
Using Adderall as a "study drug" can contribute to the beginning of an addiction. Adderall is a Schedule II drug, which means the drug has a high potential for severe dependence if misused. The same Harvard student who was mentioned earlier started her addiction this way, and it escalated quickly. She said she soon felt she would never be as great when she didn't take it as when she did. She started taking multiple pills at one time in hope to make this feeling go away, which in turn, increased her tolerance to the medicine and made her even more dependent- a vicious cycle.
It's extremely important not to take any medicine that is not yours, not just Adderall. When Adderall is abused, the signs and symptoms include: nervousness, restlessness, headaches, difficulty sleeping, changes in sex drive, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss, and uncontrollable shaking or seizures. More serious signs and symptoms include: shortness of breath, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs, chest pain, paranoia, hallucinations, aggressive behavior, and manic episodes.
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