With the pressure of finals week, college students throughout the nation have turned to prescribed stimulants to aid their studies and, at Binghamton University, the pressure is no different.
Abuse of the stimulant Adderall, perhaps the most widely-used drug on college campuses, has been identified all over the country, from the University of Arizona, to the University of Illinois, to the University of Hawaii.
Adderall is an amphetamine prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly referred to as ADHD, mainly in order to enhance the person’s ability to focus. The two main stimulants, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, work to maintain the balance of neurotransmitters, which are substances naturally occurring in the brain — and focus the user.
But the pill’s effect has grown into a last-minute cure-all for students who seek some assistance in their studies, and an underground market has evolved.
“We recognize it as a growing problem across the country,” said Gerry Johansen, associate director of health services at BU. “I’m aware that it is used on campus. I’m aware that it’s used far too often not prescribed. Part of the problem is students don’t recognize it as a bad thing.”
A NEW ‘FOCUS’?
For some underclassmen, the availability of the drug on campus is a resounding reminder of its role on campus.
“It’s extremely easy to get,” said John, a freshman student who wished to remain anonymous. “It’s very, very good for studying. It just makes focusing come naturally.”
John used Adderall for the first time ever while writing a 15-page paper he had left to the last minute. He had never had “access” to the drug before, but he obtained it with relative ease from a friend who is prescribed the medication and asked nothing in return.
When asked if he would use it again for finals, John seemed hesitant.
“I don’t need to take it for my tests, only because I screwed myself over on that paper,” said John.
Another freshman who also wished to conceal his identity, Mike, claimed he would be “doing [Adderall] every day” if he had it.
“Adderall definitely keeps you from fidgeting and it does focus you for longer than anything else,” said Mike. “It keeps you more awake and you just feel like you don’t want to move your body. If you like to kick your foot when you’re somewhere, you’ll stop doing it.”
Mike has taken the drug twice so far, but like John, his contact did not ask for any monetary exchange. An article two years ago about Adderall prices the pills at four for $20, although the cost tends to spike during finals week.
Johansen recognizes students’ illegal use of the drug as a way to make up for intense procrastination.
“A lot of people who use the drug use it to make up for other shortcomings … and they think it will make up for loss time,” said Johansen. “But it really doesn’t.”
RIGHTS AND WRONGS
The use of prescription drugs is addressed in the Rules of Student Conduct, which explains that “possessing … prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you … on campus is prohibited.” The handbook also discusses that any exchange of these drugs, whether it be buying or selling, the giving away or the “making available” of the substance is also prohibited. The penalty for the crime, as dictated by New York State’s procedures for trafficking controlled substances like Adderall, include “prison terms ranging from one year to life in prison on conviction.”
Besides the legal issues involved, officials maintain that there are ethical conflicts with the transaction of the drug between students as well.
“Some students use it to get a leg up on their peers,” said Johansen. “If there’s an actual wrong involved, that’s the wrong.”
Besides that, Johansen claims that some students use the drug to solely make a profit.
“It’s a shame that many students think nothing of giving [Adderall] away,” said Johansen. “Some even get the prescription just to sell. It’s a very hard issue to address.”
RUNNING ON ADDERALL
Because Adderall is a stimulant, there is a possibility that people who are not prescribed the drug can become mentally addicted and the drug can be “habit-forming,” according to the online medical directory WebMD.
“You won’t find out until it happens,” said Johansen. “Everyone builds up a tolerance.”
Besides the mental side-effects, Johansen suggests that a person’s body can also become seriously “run-down,” as they will tend to not sleep or eat sufficiently.
WebMD cites possible side effects of the drug as loss of appetite, dry mouth, upset stomach, dizziness, headache, nervousness and more unlikely but serious issues such as mental or behavioral changes, shortness of breath and blurred vision.
But students seem less concerned with the health concerns than Adderall’s potency.
“There are side effects for the medication, but as long as I don’t look it up and find out what they are, I’m fine,” Mike said.