Adderall: College Students' New Drug of Choice

Adderall is a medication used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a psycho-stimulant made up of mixed amphetamine salts and has a high potential for abuse.

While it is widely prescribed for children and adults with ADD/ADHD, this medication is also being heavily used by many college students who don't have the disorder as a brain enhancement drug to help them concentrate, retain information and get better grades.

New estimates show that at least 10-15% of all college students are now taking ADHD medications to help give them a leg up. While these stimulants are usually used to deliver a calming effect for those who are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, when they are consumed by people who don't need it, it has an opposite effect.

A person who doesn't have ADHD will experience increased energy, intense levels of concentration and a heightened awareness when using these meds. Because of this, Adderall is especially used by students around the time of finals when they have a lot of studying to do and big tests to prepare for. While the improved performance could really lift a person up, the side effects from these drugs could also take them down.

ADHD meds come with a long list of warnings that stem from the potential side effects, which has made some with the disorder question how great they really are for ADHD treatment. However, this becomes even more of an issue for students who take the drugs when they don't need them.

Adderall side effects
1) Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats
2) Feeling light-headed, fainting
3) Increased blood pressure
4) Severe headache, dizziness
5) Blurred vision
6) Chest pain
7) Numbness
8) Seizure
9) Hallucinations
10) Motor tics
11) Insomnia
12) Dry mouth
13) Loss of appetite, weight loss

There is also the high potential for dependency on these drugs.

One reason why students who don't have ADHD are taking these "smart pills" is because we live in a society that puts a great deal of pressure on young people to do well in school. Older students are told that their entire lives depend on how well they perform while they are in college and after.

While encouragement is one thing, too much pressure has been driving some students to seek alternative ways to boost their performance and give them a competitive edge. So instead of turning to cocaine, marijuana, or other illegal street drugs, students are taking Adderall and Ritalin pills by the dozens. And student athletes are becoming increasingly vulnerable.

College students, especially those who play sports, love to mimic the behavior of professional athletes. They want to look like them, live like them and most of all play like them.

We all know that taking drugs to boost performance is a very common thing in pro sports. Surely you've seen the numerous news reports of professional athletes taking anabolic steroids, amphetamines and human growth hormone (HGH) to help them run faster, jump higher and hit harder. Yes, there has been a big crack down as these cases unfold in the media. But one drug being used by pro athletes that has somehow slipped below the radar is, you guessed it, Adderall.

Recent reports show many Major League Baseball players are turning their backs on the "illegal" use of steroids. Instead they are running to their doctors claiming they have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in order to get prescriptions for "legal" stimulants used to treat ADHD.

How long do you think it will be before college students start doing the same?

While the idea of a drug to improve grades and performance in sports may sound great to some, it is important for college students fully understand that ADHD medications such as Adderrall and Ritalin should only be taken by those who truly have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and whose doctors have prescribed the drug to them for treatment.

Taking a controlled substance without a prescription is dangerous and against the law. Students should also note that selling these drugs on campus or giving them to other students is a felony and can result in prosecution.

Despite the amount of pressure college students face it is important to make them aware that ADD/ADHD medications do not really offer an answer to their issues in school. It's a temporary fix for a long term problem that could be life threatening. And officials at most of the U.S. colleges and universities are aware of what's going on and are telling students to STOP before they get caught!

College administrators are encouraging students to get good grades the old fashioned way by just devoting more time to studying. If students just take care of themselves, eat right, get plenty of exercise and pay more attention in class, they will do just fine in school without the need for un-prescribed ADHD medications.