With finals right around the corner, many students rely on study drugs to power through assignments and tests. Whether it’s Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta or Vyvanse, an increasing number of students choose to illegally take prescription drugs during this stressful period.

It may seem easy enough to pop a pill — students don’t always consider all the consequences. Many cleanse their systems of marijuana or other recreational drugs to prepare for jobs, internships and the potential drug tests that accompany them. But tests extend further than that, and employers may shy away from students who test positive for study drugs. How many hospitals, research labs or doctor’s offices want an intern who abuses prescriptions? How well will you perform, and how reliable will you be when you’re sober?

It seems harmless to take just one pill for just one paper, but it’s easy to fall into a cycle of dependency. Some take study drugs for days in a row, getting high off amphetamines that render them unable to handle the crash. They have to take another pill the next day just to feel normal. Some end up popping pills regularly in an attempt to delay withdrawal. They don’t sleep, they don’t eat properly and they certainly aren’t healthy.

So, how did we get here? It’s easy to blame poor time management, but study drug use is bordering on an epidemic fed by more than just carelessness. Acceptance of these drugs is increasing on college campuses, and students are likely to adopt the behavior of their peers. If your friends are doing it and getting good marks, then maybe Adderall doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

It’s important to remember the sources of these now-mainstream substances. Pharmaceutical companies distribute these ADHD medications at unprecedented rates, as doctors diagnose large numbers of children and adults alike. Due to a large supply, it’s easier than ever to acquire the drugs illegally at relatively low prices. The drugs can work for those who have been diagnosed with ADHD, but for those who likewise have ADHD and are hounded by their friends and classmates to sell a pill, it isn’t. So who profits from these cases of abuse? It’s Barr Pharmaceuticals, which makes money off of each and every last minute addiction. It’s Novartis that profits every time a student thinks he can’t possibly write his last paper without a boost.

At the end of the day, if you’re resorting to study drugs to get through the end of the semester, chances are you won’t be dissuaded from your plan. Remember to drink water and check in with your friends. In semesters to come, and in life after college, we have a choice. An A on your final is worth less than your health and the health of our community.