Students looking for an edge are buying prescription pills from their classmates and administrators have little knowledge about how to stop the situation.
If this sounds familiar, it’s not what you might think. The newest drug of choice for busy high school and college students is Adderall, a medicine intended for two purposes: fight attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
Studies have shown Adderall can be more powerful and last longer than Ritalin, another common ADHD medicine.
Inside the usage
One Pittsburg State senior, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said she had been taking Adderall for about four years. She said Adderall is like caffeine, but without the huge crash at the end of caffeine pills.
The student said many Adderall pills are time-released, and “if you take it in the morning, it will last all day.”
“When school is in session, I’ll take Adderall about every week to help me study and get through the week,” she said. “Some weeks, I’ll take it two to three times a week just to focus in class and get through tests. It makes you more awake and more focused. When you’re taking tests, it helps you remember things better.”
The source said most of her friends use it, especially during finals and other major test periods.
But Adderall is only prescribed for those suffering from ADHD. For those who don’t have ADHD, the easiest way to get Adderall is to find someone who does have ADHD.
“Some have prescriptions that they sell to their friends,” the source said. “Some have prescriptions they don’t use because they only had ADHD as a kid but they keep telling their doctor they need it. But they only get it so they can sell it.”
How to fight abuse
Pittsburg State officials said there was not a specific provision against Adderall use in the Student Code, but the drug would be covered in the drug policy.
“Our policy on the use of Adderall is that is a prescribed drug that many would use legitimately because of legitimate health conditions,” said Steve Erwin, associate vice president for campus life. “As far as those using it illicitly, and there are those that do so, that would be a violation of student policy. Use of any prescribed drug outside a prescription specifically for the drug is illegal.”
However, Erwin acknowledged that fighting illegal Adderall use is a difficult process and potentially impossible without catching someone red-handed.
“A lot of times, people come into contact with the Student Conduct Code because of behavioral changes caused by drugs. One of the reasons this situation doesn’t come into light is there is little evidence to prove Adderall use,” Erwin said. “First, it depends on whether or not anyone reports that. Second, there’s rarely any evidence to substantiate those accusations unless the student has the drugs right there.”
What can be done
Despite Erwin’s comments about how difficult Adderall use is to fight, there are other ways the university can be either vigilant or find ways to help the students that need it.
“We have a strong substance abuse prevention program through our Prevention and Wellness department,” Erwin said. “They have a broad-based message including prescription drugs. We also have a big impact in our full-service health center. Often times these situations arise first there, but those folks at the health center are very vigilant about potential abuses.
“If we find someone in violation of the law because they are in possession of these drugs without a prescription or with the intent to deal the drugs, we would pursue criminal prosecution. The investigators here would look into that.”
Erwin said the drug is often on a 30-day prescription, putting a tighter situation on both buyers and sellers.
“I know the psychiatrists and physicians are on constant vigilance for those types of cases,” Erwin said. “We’re very careful about that.”
Is it cheating?
Adderall allows some to have increased focus using an illegal substance. As for whether or not it’s wrong in any way is a different debate.
“I don’t have a perspective on that,” Erwin said. “Someone might say the same thing about caffeine. Coffee and soft drinks and energy boosts would count for caffeine. Those are on a different level. [Adderall] certainly wouldn’t be in the same category as traditional ways of cheating, such as gaining an advantage over testing procedures or using work that is not their own.”
The source said she did not feel the drug gave an unfair advantage, but instead provided positive outcomes. She also said she believes it will likely only be a school-time item, and that she doesn’t plan on using it after she completes her schooling.
“Some people just can’t focus for four hours at a time,” she said. “To a doctor, that’s not a reason to be put on Adderall. From my experience, it’s been pretty helpful. There are days when you just need a pick-me-up.
“I don’t think it should get a bad rap for anything. Doctors should consider prescribing it to others who just can’t get through the day.”
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
PITTSBURG —
