By Nia Saunders
It’s no secret that every year, the pressure for college students to stand out among their peers increases. The ultimate goal is to graduate with a substantial degree and find a well-paying job that will support a comfortable lifestyle. More and more high paying tech jobs are outsourcing and looking for graduates with exceptional resumes and experience. Students are needing extracurriculars, internships, high GPA’s and referrals from professors to stand a chance among the competition in today’s job market. Late nights in the library and cram sessions are a common stereotype and an unfortunate reality for college students. Workloads are getting heavier and college acceptance rates are getting lower. Students who feel an immense amount of pressure are looking for other ways to help them stay motivated and energized.
Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine that is prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. It is also commonly prescribed to patients diagnosed with narcolepsy, a disorder which causes uncontrollable desires to sleep. Adderall acts as a stimulant when consumed by those who do not have ADHD. Effects include extreme concentration, increased energy and reduced appetite. There is a relatively short list of negative side effects, such as insomnia, high blood pressure and for some, headaches. Adderall has gained a reputation on college campuses as a sort of “wonder drug”. One account from a user online described his experience with the drug as feeling like “Superman for a day, and then some”.
A study from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that non-prescribed use of Adderall increased by 67% in people ages 18 to 25 from 2005 to 2011. This drug epidemic is different than others because Adderall is not considered a party drug, and the goal for its users isn’t to “get high”. Instead Adderall is most commonly used among this age group as a study aid and a means of motivation. Adderall is the “quick fix” to getting your grades up in a hard class, deep cleaning your room and even achieving your ideal body weight.
Caption: College students were more likely to participate in non-prescription Adderall use, than young adults in the same age range who were not enrolled in college.
Sixteen million Adderall prescriptions were given to those aged 20 to 39 in 2012. This same year, a review from a journal called “Brain and Behavior”, found that Adderall is second to only marijuana as the most common illegal drug use on college campuses. Now, college administrators and medical professionals recognize just how big the Adderall epidemic has become.
Students who abuse Adderall fail to see the hazards of non-prescription use because they often have friends who are diagnosed with ADHD and take the drug regularly. This is the major reason for the widespread use of non-prescribed Adderall. Someone without ADHD may use this reason to justify their use of the drug, and only see the benefit of the stimulant. Because Adderall has so few short-term negative side effects, users are often oblivious to what long-term side effects they could experience. Excessive use can lead to heart complications and psychological instabilities such as depression.
The widespread abuse of Adderall is a direct result of its misguided reputation as a miracle drug and its extensive availability on college campuses. A conference at Temple University in Philadelphia was held to come up with methods to subside non-prescribed Adderall consumption. The director of the National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli, suggested implementing higher regulation when diagnosing ADHD and handing out prescriptions. Campuses could also enact search and seizures if there is probable cause a student is selling or consuming prescription pills. If campuses enforced consequences such as suspension or expulsion, students would be less likely to participate in illicit activities involving Adderall.
Like most drug epidemics, Adderall seems to be taking hold of America’s youth. It is important to be educated on the problem, which is the first step to solving it. The more people that are educated on the negative effects of this stimulant, both long-term and short-term, the more likely they are to steer clear of an addiction that could last a lifetime.
Sources:
https://lawstreetmedia.com/news/adderall-epidemic-speed-success/
https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=57884
https://www.thefix.com/adderall-abuse-rise-college-campuses
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/magazine/generation-adderall-addiction.html
https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=57884
Source for graph:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/college-students-arent-the-only-ones-abusing-adderall/
sans CV 
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