Shortly into my junior year of High School, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. As a result of this I was prescribed an off brand of Adderall, simply labeled Amphetamine Salt. I'm not qualified to say whether or not it was an accurate diagnosis (that's best left to doctors and people knowledgeable in the field of learning disorders), but I do know that I'm easily distracted and have difficulty getting motivated to do, well, anything. In the last 20 years, diagnoses of ADD and other learning disorders have skyrocketed. Whether this is a matter of mass misdiagnosing, better detection of the disorder, helicopter parenting, or some combination of the three is a matter of debate. Whether or not I was properly diagnosed (I believe I was, but I digress), living with both the disorder and the medication while going to college has opened my eyes a bit, and given me a bit of perspective on exactly how it affects myself, and others like me, properly diagnosed or not.
The most obvious thing I've noticed revolve around Adderall: Adderall is an amphetamine, a word with a somewhat dirty reputation due to drugs like Methamphetamine (Meth). It's used as a treatment for ADHD, narcolepsy, and as a cognitive enhancer. And let me tell you: It works. There have been several occasions when after taking my afternoon dosage, I'd find myself doing homework and cleaning everything I could, and before I knew it, five hours had passed. Not only are you focused, but you feel mentally sharp: I've written 2000 word essays complete with citations in a matter of 40 minutes. Petty distractions like the song stuck in your head or what's happening outside of your window are irrelevant; you have things to do, and until they're done you're restless, pacing back and forth in my personal experience. It sounds pretty good, right?
Well, like all things, it's a bit of a double edged sword. After seeing how it works in regular, prescribed doses, it becomes tempting to try to take more than you're supposed to. While this does make you more productive yet, it comes with several side effects that are much more noticeable. First of all, it suppresses appetite. Not in the sense of, "I just ate a smaller meal instead of a big one", but more of a "I haven't eaten in 15 hours." When you do remember to eat (since you won't have hunger to remind you), food tastes different. Your body temperature rises. When the effects of it wear off headaches are common, and you're exhausted both physically and mentally. The lack of eating means your stomach demands food. Despite being tired, sleep is still nonetheless hard to come by, causing several sleepless nights. A misconception I've heard from some was that it made you wake up a bit if you were tired: This is untrue. You will still feel as if you didn't sleep at all the night before, the only difference is that you won't be able to take a nap if you want to. Like almost anything, it's also addictive. I've found that the more regularly I take it, the less motivated I am when I'm not on my meds. Seeing the early signs of being dependent, I made the change to take it only on days when I decide I need it.
You also wouldn't believe how many people ask me to sell it to them. As soon as I mention I take it, some people automatically assume I peddle pills as a hobby. Some people are willing to give me a fair amount of money; I remember one person offered me $20 for four pills. To this day I've never sold any, a fact I take a small amount of pride in.
I'm conflicted on whether or not the drug has made a positive influence on my life. All of the above pros and cons I've told you come from personal experience. I know many people on college campuses abuse Adderall, due to it's effects. If you've ever considered the thought of trying it, I'm not here to tell you to do it or not to do it. It's your life to live and learn, but please do your research and honestly decide whether the pros outweigh the cons.
