ADD drug abuse: A disturbing new trend on college campuses

By: Kyle DeVito

Posted: 10/23/08

College is often associated with the abuse of many substances- alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy. The list goes on and on. However, there is an equally disturbing new trend in addiction on college campuses that is rapidly worsening each year: the abuse of the medication that is created to battle the effects of Attention Deficit Disorder, also known as ADD.

There are many prescription drugs used on the market to fight ADD. The primary, name brand drugs include Ritalin, Adderall, and Stratera.

This disorder is common among teens, however it is commonly believed that doctors are over diagnosing the disorder.

These medications are a central nervous system stimulant. They manipulate chemicals in the brain that cause hyperactivity and impulse control.

Most pharmacists, such as Eric R. Kandel, co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in medicine for his research on memory loss medications, such as Adderall, thinks it is insane that these medications are finding their way into the possession of college students.

"That's awful," said Kandel. "Why should they be taking drugs? They should just study. I think this is absurd."

Not all abusers of this drug use it to get ahead in school. Some consume this drug to simply achieve a different high. According to Scott David, a senior in high school, "most kids that use this drug illegally are using it to not only get ahead in school but to also get [messed up]. I know that's what I use it for."

Katherine DeVito, a Georgia State student, says "all my girl friends that are so self conscious use their Ritalin to lose weight. It's like a new eating disorder."

In May of 2006, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America issued its annual attitude-tracking study on drug use. It is a survey of more than 7,300 high school students, designed to represent a larger U.S. population with what is believed to be a plus or minus 1.5 percent accuracy, according to Thomas A. Hedrick Jr., the founding director of the organization. This report indicated that among kids of high school age, 2.25 million are using stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall, without a prescription.

These statistics are staggering when considering the scope of the abuse. As bad as the problem is projected to be in the high school student population, it is estimated to be much worse in the college ranks due to the increased competitiveness in the academic realm.

According to Andrew Fortenberry, a Gainesville State Oconee student, "People are always looking for ways to get their hands on Ritalin. They ask my roommate for his [prescription] pills all the time. I guess people are just that desperate to get ahead in school or something. I don't get it."

Abusing these drugs can be a very dangerous practice. When abusing this drug, sleep can seem impossible, often leading to irregular sleep patterns and possible insomnia. Adderall is also dangerous to people who have heart conditions.

Abusing these drugs is a dangerous practice that is rapidly spreading through the country at an alarming rate. This drug abuse should be identified as the danger that it presents to our youth and measures should be taken to prevent further spread of this epidemic.