A Dangerous Addiction: All About Adderall

By Maricris Julie L. Taeza

*For confidentiality purposes, surnames have been changed.

College students have discovered one of the most dangerous ways to cheat in school. It is not written down on paper nor communicated through hand gestures; it is taken orally.

With the numerous assignments and projects students have to juggle in school, they have developed a “need to speed” to finish their tasks within limited time. Thus, they have succumbed to an easy way out, such as taking drugs even without prescription.

Adderall, a brand-name stimulant made of amphetamine, surfaced as the commonly used drug by students when they need to speed. “Adderall is a highly abused medication,” says Jennifer Davis, a nurse practitioner at Ball State University’s Amilia T. Wood Health Center.

According to Dr. Carol Boyd, a nursing professor at the University of Michigan, studies indicated that the nonmedical use of prescription medications is increasing in the U.S. among adolescents and young adults.

Energy Booster

Ball State alumnus Verseilles Stroud* says he used Adderall in college whenever he needed to study even though he had no prescription.

“It helps you stay awake,” Stroud says. He admits he has probably used Adderall 30 times. He had tried his first pill as a high school senior.

Stroud describes himself as jittery whenever he is on Adderall. “My legs move fast, and I pee a lot,” he says.

Graduate student Clark Robles* tried Adderall once during his senior year of college when he had only two hours left to finish his homework. His friend advised him to take Adderall, and he agreed.

“I felt energized. It was like drinking a bunch of coffee, and my hands and body were shaking a little,” Robles says. He adds Adderall made him finish a three-page paper in two hours. “If I did not take it, I would not be able to finish as fast as I did. My mind tends to wander when I am working, and I definitely felt more focused when I was on it.”

What You Need To Know

Adderall is prescribed for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a condition usually diagnosed in children or young adults. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD patients show inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

However, Davis reminds people who are not able to function daily or do well in school to see a medical professional for proper diagnosis. “You can’t just go online and take the test. You can’t self-diagnose,” she says.

Sociology professor Jun Xu of Ball State says our society has become medicalized, where normal problems turn into medical concerns. He adds the medical field contributes to this phenomenon, as it tries to stress out the importance of drugs.

Dr. Carrie Ball, assistant professor of educational psychology, says college students, whether or not they are diagnosed with ADHD, self-medicate because Adderall makes them feel better about getting their work done.

According to Ball, students might be getting their supply from someone who has a prescription. “I think there is a notion that it is safe," she says. "Otherwise, doctors would not write prescriptions for it.”

Pills for Dollars

Ball State senior Lucas Smart* has been prescribed Adderall since he was in grade school. He has been selling his medicine to 10 different non-prescribed people since 2005 because he needs the money and feels others need the drug more than he does.

“The guy who usually buys Adderall from me studies all the time, and [using Adderall] is just his way to keep his energy up,” Smart says.

Smart buys his medication from CVS Pharmacy at about $1.67 per pill and sells them at $3 to $5 each. He says the demand for Adderall increases during finals week; the sales could triple, and the students would be willing to pay $5 to $10 per pill.

However, Smart clarifies he prefers to sell Adderall to people who will use it and not resell it. “But since it is for money why I am selling it, I might as well sell it. If I could tell the people not to resell, then at least I have done my part,” he says.

Health Hazards

As for the side effects, Stroud says he feels like he has not slept in three days when the effect of the drug starts to wane. “I felt so tired, but I could not sleep because the drug was still in my system,” he says.

Despite the side effect, Stroud recommends the drug to anyone who needs to accomplish a lot of work in a short span of time.

Robles disagrees. “I do not think one needs to do drugs to get stuff done. With a one-time use, I do not see a problem, but I do not think people should use it on a regular basis,” he says.

Davis says there are more serious side effects of Adderall abuse such as decreased appetite, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, irritability and increased blood pressure.

Davis says the drug has an addictive quality. “The longer you take it, the more you feel like you need it,” she says. “The key is to have supervision of a physician or a nurse practitioner. If you take it without prescription, it can be dangerous.”