With the chaotic time period we all know and love – finals week just around the corner – students are turning to more than just caffeine. They’re turning to Adderall.
It’s been called “the miracle drug,” a substance making its presence known on college campuses around the nation, and is no stranger to Ole Miss.
“It’s the ‘study drug,’” sophomore Cody Lemons said. “With my strenuous schedule, using Adderall seemed logical because it kept me awake during times when I really needed to study.”
The FDA labeled the drug for use to treat symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It enables the user to stay attentive and decreases feelings of hyperactivity.
However, this highly-controlled substance is being passed along to students by those who are prescribed to it as a “boost” during finals week, despite its potentially dangerous risks.
Leslie Cliburn, who is also a sophomore at Ole Miss, spoke about his past experience with Adderall during finals.
“I’ve used it before and been up 60 hours straight just studying for finals – it got the job done,” he said.
Upon being asked about having a fear when he took the medicine, Leslie said, “At the time I thought, ‘Well, people are getting it prescribed to them all the time, and if it worked for them and they didn’t get hurt, then it could work for me too.’”
The FDA also notes the risks of using the drug if it is not prescribed, stating, “Using this medication improperly can cause death or serious side effects on the heart.”
However, the immense pressure students feel during finals may somehow make them feel it is worth the risk.
“Luckily, I haven’t had anyone die as a result of me giving them Adderall,” says one source who requested to remain unnamed. He goes on to speak about how easy it is for students to obtain the substance without a prescription.
“It’s like all I have to do is mention to someone I’m prescribed to it and all of a sudden there is like seven people coming up to me asking if I can sell them some for finals,” he stated.
Obviously, not everyone who has taken Adderall without a prescription has died as a result; however, Scott Gustafson, the clinic director of the department of psychology, has commented that the risk for a potential overdose is high for those who have not been informed by a physician about how much of the drug to take.
“Many students will pop Adderall like it’s caffeine, and they don’t normally think about the amount they are putting into their body or if they have taken too much,” Gustafson said.
Ironically, he also notes that taking too much of the drug while not having ADHD will actually be counter-productive, and may ultimately be a waste of a student’s time and money.
Gustafson said, “If you don’t have ADD/ADHD, Adderall will actually over-stimulate the frontal lobe of the brain, causing this area that is already working properly to go into overdrive and could ultimately result in a student doing poorly on their final.”
Understandably, finals do tend to take a toll on a student’s body; however, it is still unnerving to learn that despite the dangers of ingesting this supposed “miracle drug,” some students still risk their health and grades to take it.
Sure makes me proud to be a student here