As finals weeks begin to take a toll on students’ lives, some may have found themselves an alternative route to study and finish assignments with the use of Adderall.
A 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that full-time college students were twice as likely as their peers who were not full-time college students to have used Adderall® non medically.
Jennifer Staffero, a Psychological Counselor at Stan State, said that college students use Adderall to help them study.
“From what I believe and understand, the misuse of this on college campuses, the majority is for study drugs,” Staffero said. “I think often some students try to cut corners or are not done what they were supposed to do over the course of the semester or put things off and want to pull all-nighters.”
Prescription ADHD medications are becoming more common for overworked and overscheduled college students.
Lisa (senior, Communication Studies) has typically taken Adderall anywhere from twice a month to a few times a week throughout her semesters.
“It helps me stay focused and get things done. Especially with all the chaos of my schedule of going to work and school,” Lisa said.
Dealers can charge between $8 to $10 a pill. “It really depends on what it is going on. Some sellers might even sell it for double the price depending if midterms or finals are going on that week,” Lisa said.
34% of students who admitted to illicit use did so mainly during the week of final exams or during other periods throughout the academic year when they were experiencing high levels of academic stress in 2006, according to a study at the University of Kentucky.
“Students who don’t plan ahead with their assignments end up cramming everything at the last minute and use Adderall to cut corners. Those students who are not prescribed ADHD medication should not be taking it,” Staffero said.
Multiple studies using different methods have all arrived at the conclusion that students who illicitly use ADHD medications do so primarily in periods of high academic stress.
Mike (junior, undeclared), got his first Adderall from one of his fraternity brothers last year that he took while he was cramming for a business final.
“People are going to take Adderall,” Mike said. “All we are doing is trying to be successful in school.”
The effects that the ADHD medication may have for routine users include sleep, headaches, and depressed feelings. The long terms risk for these routine users may be that they do not feel capable of functioning without it.
“Students tend to underestimate the potential effects associated with the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants,” Staffero said.
