{"id":5941,"date":"2019-10-07T09:00:57","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T13:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=5941"},"modified":"2020-07-13T19:47:53","modified_gmt":"2020-07-13T23:47:53","slug":"adderall-abuse-misuse-of-prescription-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/adderall-abuse-misuse-of-prescription-drugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Adderall: The dangerous misuse of prescription drugs on college campuses grows"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adderall and Ritalin are household names, often seen as innocuous medications used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD). When used to treat the condition, they are<\/em>, and actually decreasing the risk for substance abuse<\/a>. But their prevalence on college campuses, along with a reputation as performance enhancers, is leading to dangerous misuse of prescription drugs and drug diversion\u2014that some say is reaching epidemic proportions.<\/p>\n

Understanding how medications such as Adderall<\/a>, Ritalin<\/a>, Vyvanse<\/a>, Concerta<\/a> (and other methylphenidates or amphetamines) are dangerously affecting young lives has a complicated entry point.<\/p>\n

Stimulants \u2260 performance enhancers<\/h2>\n

According to a study<\/a> published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases<\/em>, there are many outlets purporting misinformation about nonmedical prescription stimulant use by creating enticing ideals of \u201cperformance enhancers for the brain\u201d to teenagers, young professionals, and students. These young men and women\u2014who are often struggling with final examinations and other situations of intense academic pressure\u2014are inundated with headlines<\/a> and rumors referencing \u201csmart drugs\u201d and \u201csmart doping\u201d from friends, online forums, and media outlets.<\/p>\n

“Hello, I’m just tried methylphenidate for the first time because I have a huge placement test I’m studying for and needed some help with my busy schedule. I only bought 4 pills\u2026\u00a0 I’m being very careful to not get addicted. I fully intend to put the drug down once this test has passed<\/a>.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Taking a pill to get better grades, do well at work, or to fit in is an appealing solution to stresses that many of us face. It defies normal taboos of addictive behavior and problematic drug use. \u201cWhen I was in college, people did drugs to check out. Now, people do drugs to check in,\u201d Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, chair of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, remarks early in the Netflix original documentary Take Your Pills<\/em>\u2014which addresses prescription stimulant abuse on college campuses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we were shooting the film, people who use Adderall, Ritalin, these drugs regularly\u2014I was surprised how many young people would say, \u2018So, you’re working on this film\u2014does it work?\u2019 Take Your Pills <\/em>director Alison Klayman told NPR<\/a>. \u201cAnd what’s amazing is that one of the effects of Adderall\u2014which is, you know, amphetamine, mixed amphetamine\u2014is that it makes you feel like you are doing better. But the idea that these are \u2018smart pills\u2019 or that they’re cognitive enhancers is a little bit misguided.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s what makes the issue of prescription stimulant abuse a scary problem. This attitude is increasingly common. According to a study<\/a> published in the American Journal of Psychiatry<\/em> with data taken from the 2015 and 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 5 million Americans are illegally using prescription stimulants, with the majority seeking to boost their concentration and mental stamina. A study<\/a> published in the Journal of American College Health<\/em> found that 17 percent of 179 surveyed men and 11 percent of 202 women reported illicit use of prescribed stimulant medication. Forty-four percent of surveyed students stated that they knew students who misuse stimulant medication for both academic and recreational reasons.<\/p>\n

What constitutes misuse of prescription drugs?<\/h2>\n

The World Health Organization defines misuse as \u201cthe use of a substance for a purpose not consistent with legal or medical guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Hey, I’m a college student and I was wondering how to get Adderall prescribed. I don’t have ADHD or ADD, sometimes I have trouble focusing but I wouldn’t consider myself to have either\u2026 I took my first 20mg freshman year of college. Got it from my buddy, and within 2 weeks I scheduled an appointment with a pysch and got my own prescription. Used it safely for about 6 months, but I started to become dependent on it and eventually talked my doc into reaching 80mg a day. Abused it for another year and eventually cut myself off as it was doing more harm than help\u2026<\/a>“<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That definition of misuse covers young men and women are turning to Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, or other prescription stimulants to help them focus, stay awake longer, and perform better. And while they see their intentions as good, what they most likely don\u2019t realize when they take a pill from a friend or seek out a prescription themselves is that the potential benefits of using prescription stimulants to enhance performance are more limited than many realize.<\/p>\n

The dangers of prescription misuse<\/h2>\n

Research<\/a> shows that prescription stimulant users who aren\u2019t<\/em> taking them to treat a medical condition typically have lower grade point averages than non-users. This suggests that academically successful students are not likely to use prescription stimulants nonmedically. Additionally, nonmedical prescription stimulant users are more likely than other students to be heavy drinkers and users of other illicit drugs.<\/p>\n

Plus, taking these meds can be physically harmful, not just bad for your grades. All bottles of Adderall come flagged with a \u201cblack box warning<\/a>\u201d from the FDA\u2014which is the highest level of alert the FDA puts on medications. The FDA considered the warning necessary because of prescription stimulants\u2019 potential to increase users\u2019 heart rate and blood pressure, as well as raise risks of aneurysms, heart attack, and\/or stroke. These medications cause cardiovascular aging. They come with the danger that users can become physically and psychologically addicted or dependent on the drug. Other Adderall side effects include insomnia, hyperactivity, irritability, and changes in personality.<\/p>\n

But despite the negative possibilities, prescriptions for stimulants are more popular than ever. ADHD is an increasingly common diagnosis, and prescription stimulants are the first-line treatment. It\u2019s now accepted that ADHD continues to adulthood, so more and more teens go to college with medication\u2014creating a larger opportunity for those who have no prescription to obtain the medication, and creating stigma and difficulty for those who responsibly use stimulants to treat ADHD and ADD.\u00a0 According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/a>, 16 million U.S. adults are taking prescription stimulants.<\/p>\n

To help limit the availability of Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, and other stimulants, many medical practitioners and general physicians are being encouraged by research and experts in the field to refer patients to psychiatric professionals rather than risking misdiagnosing cases of ADD and ADHD themselves.<\/p>\n

Raising awareness for misuse of prescription drugs<\/h2>\n

Authors of the study<\/a> published in the Journal of Addictive Disease <\/em>also outline the importance of raising awareness on college campuses of the potential signs, symptoms, and risks of prescription stimulant abuse. But to fully address the competitive pressures that drive a lot of Adderall abuse, wider cultural changes and more open discussions about what misuse and abuse looks like between families, friends, and peers are needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, many parents are unaware that their college-attending children are using prescription stimulants nonmedically, or, even worse, many parents appear to be enabling the problem by turning a blind eye or encouraging the behavior,\u201d author Dr. Amelia A. Arria wrote in the study<\/a>. \u201cFueled by their concerns about maximizing their child’s academic performance, these parents are highly susceptible to the myths\u2026that, at best, nonmedical use of prescription stimulants might help their children earn better grades and that, at worst, it is harmless. \u2026Parents must be encouraged to discuss these popular myths with their children and emphasize that attending class, completing assignments on time, and keeping up with schoolwork on a regular basis is the most likely\u2014albeit difficult and even boring\u2014strategy to achieve superior academic performance. A useful and appropriate analogy can be drawn with weight management strategies. The healthy way to long-term success involves regular exercise and healthy eating habits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Signs of Adderall abuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When a medication is given to or taken by any person besides whom it was prescribed to, it\u2019s called drug diversion. It\u2019s dangerous, and\u2014unfortunately\u2014it\u2019s all too common. What many don\u2019t realize, it\u2019s also a serious crime. When kids with ADHD cave to peer pressure and give pills to friends, they could be arrested and charged with a felony. And that will stay with them long after the glow of all A’s for a semester fades. If you think your teen might be abusing Adderall, watch for these warning signs:<\/p>\n