Adderall use increases, doctors warn of consequences

By: Natalie Dolce

Posted: 4/1/03

It’s quick and easy, but it is anything but simple.

For those prescribed Adderall for illnesses such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, it is FDA-approved relief. But for one in five college students, it’s a tempting solution to burdensome work.

It didn’t take long for high school and college students to catch on to the drug. With the pop of a pill, students can more efficiently study for exams or write term papers. A preliminary study from the University of Wisconsin found that one in five college students have used Adderall or Ritalin without a doctor’s prescription, a practice that can be extremely risky.

"People find this drug enticing because they can get their academic work done quicker or do more in a shorter period of time," said exercise science sophomore Nicole McLean.

Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) jump starts the central nervous system, increases heart rate and blood pressure and decreases appetite. Duke University psychologist Jeff Kulley said Adderall serves as a replacement for a chemical that ADHD patients lack, but for those without this disorder, the drug acts like speed and has adverse affects.

“It's very similar in its action to cocaine when it's snorted," Kulley said.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, it is a medication sought after for its psychoactive effects — to get high, stay awake for extended periods of time to study or party, to lose weight or mix with alcohol or other drugs.

Recent studies show that abuse of the drug has increased across the country — and it’s no stranger to Syracuse University.

Several SU students admitted to using Adderall as a study aid, but none were comfortable giving their names for publication due to concerns about the stigma associated with Adderall use and abuse.

Kulley said that using the drug for non-prescribed purposes constitutes abuse and is very dangerous. Some potential side effects are insomnia, digestive problems, vomiting, loss of appetite, psychotic episodes and nervousness.

Officials at the DEA said abuse of prescription stimulants became more common in the last five years as production of Adderall increased and other drugs were introduced into the marketplace. Its prominence helped Adderall replace the caffeine pills of the past.

The mind-altering effects of Adderall counter the idea that it works well as a study aid. Kulley pointed out that information acquisition is dependent on state of mind, which means studying in one condition and testing in another won’t add up.

“Taking Adderall and studying hard all night might not win you an A,” Kulley said.

But the consequences can be much worse than potential bad grades. Dubbed the “poor man’s cocaine,” it is developing similar seeds in the drug market.

"It is a fat, black market," said Chris Kerper, a sophomore at San Diego State University. "Just like selling drugs, there is a standard price, a going rate just like pot."

Kerper said he sells three 10 milligram pills of Adderall for $7.

Students prescribed the medication may sell their medication because of its profitability. Researchers from the University of WIsconsin found that more than a third of students who took Adderall said they'd been asked to sell or trade their drugs. And more than half of students who weren't prescribed the medication said they knew students who gave away or sold their medication.

Selling and distributing Adderall is a felony punishable by a $10,000 fine or a prison term up to 45 years.

A student’s contempt for the law may allow him to continue using Adderall despite the warnings. Beyond threats of jail time and fines, Kuelly offers one final admonishment against abusing the drug.

“Adderall,” he warned, “is addictive.”