Type “Adderall” into Google and you’ll be met with a series of links containing phrases such as “super drug,” “maximize your brain power,” and “smart pills.” There is a national misconception by many young adults, namely college students, that this is the prescription drug that can solve all your problems. Many individuals cite their increase in motivation, energy, and focus after taking Adderall as a primary reason they use it to stay on top of schoolwork. Others note the immense decrease in appetite that the drug causes as a method of dieting and losing weight.
Megan*, a student at the University of Virginia, told me “I use Adderall every now and then when my work is piled up and I need to get it all done efficiently. It’s not an every day thing, but I get a pill or two from a friend when I know I need to focus for a few hours and stay awake.” As we discussed this, her friend Whitney* chimed in, “I know a lot of girls that will ‘up’ their intake for a couple weeks before spring break or a big event so they can lose a few pounds quickly. Your body just doesn’t feel hunger when you’ve taken Adderall, so it’s easy to avoid overeating or eating out of boredom.”
These may sound like fairly harmless benefits that can be easily achieved by simply popping a pill, but there are immense dangers associated with this prescription drug when it is taken recreationally. Adderall is marketed to improve focus for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or ADHD), but there is undoubtedly widespread misuse by people who do not medically need it. These individuals usually obtain the drug by falsifying symptoms to their physician in order to get a prescription, or by purchasing the pills “on the black market” from friends or family who do have prescriptions.
Very few people realize that although it may appear Adderall is widely distributed, it is considered a DEA Schedule II substance. Medically known as an amphetamine, this means that Adderall is classified in the same group as cocaine, meth, and oxycodone. Side effects include increased or irregular heartbeat, nausea, extreme weight loss, insomnia, and anxiety. Like other Schedule II substances, an addiction can develop because an individual’s body will have an increased tolerance after prolonged use.
According the Journal of American College Health, 31% of college students will have used Adderall non-medically by the time they reach their senior year. Not only is this blatantly illegal, but it is also considered cheating at many Universities. Here at the University of Virginia, the use of Adderall without a prescription can result in a University Judiciary Committee Trial or even an Honor Committee trial.
It is important to note that there are healthier, and more honest ways of losing weight, doing better in school, and maintaining focus. The increased use of Adderall across college campuses poses a serious health risk to students while only providing benefits that can be obtained through other methods. I encourage all collegiate women to avoid the temptation of using drugs they are not prescribed to in order to “get ahead.” It is not worth the potential consequences.