By Edgar Miller
Adderall, a prescription drug for ADHD, has become one of the latest crazes for students trying to stay awake and study.
At MSU, some students are doing whatever they can to get their hands on these “study aids.” Whether it is asking for pills from friends or buying them from a dealer, more students are resorting to using illegal drugs to help them stay on track.
Using pills such as Adderall and Vyvanse to study cannot be that bad for you, or can they?
According to Dr. Laura Spiller, psychology professor, abusing these drugs can bring on significant negative side effects.
Since the drugs are stimulants, they can disrupt appetite and alter behavior. Drugs such as Adderall and Vyvanse can also wreak havoc with sleep.
Eventually students will not achieve the same “high” they were aiming for, she said.
That is why these drugs are also labeled as habit-forming, meaning eventually, the student will have to take more and more to maintain the same effect.
Spiller said long-term abuse can lead to higher risk for substance abuse and mood and anxiety disorders.
Many students decide to take these drugs because they are too busy, thus leaving them tired and in need of a pick-me-up to stay awake.
“Students are motivated to abuse stimulants because they want to make good grades but have too many time commitments and are fatigued due to insufficient sleep,” Spiller said.
Undergraduate research samples show that about 17 percent of men and 11 percent of women have tried stimulant medications without a prescription.
According to Spiller, research also shows that students who use stimulants to study do not do any better academically and report that the medication was not very helpful.
“I like the drive it gives me. I am hyper and more focused,” one MSU student said. He said the only negative side effects he faced were loss of appetite and sleep.
“On the street, these pills can cost anywhere from $2 to $4,” the student said, “depending on the milligram and brand.”
If prescribed with insurance, a 30-day supply of Vyvanse costs $10.
Dealers mark the pills up and are currently making about $50 in profit.
Adderall and Vyvanse are the most common.
They come in a time-release capsule or in a regular tablet.
So what can you do to study in a more healthier and legal manner?
Students first need to look at how many other commitments they have such as family and work before deciding how many hours to take, Spiller said.
This will keep them from over working themselves. Spiller also said students need to have six to nine hours each week to devote to each class.
Learning to manage stress will also be a key factor in maintaining a great schedule to study, she said.