Improper Use of ADHD Drugs Rampant in Colleges
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The Image Bank/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — For decades, college students have taken over-the-counter stimulants to stay awake and illegal drugs for recreational use to wind down from their studies.
However, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids says the latest problem on college campuses involves students using prescription medications to keep up with the demands of the classroom.
All in all, about 20 percent of respondents to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids survey say they’ve taken prescription drugs at least once while half in that group admit they do it in an effort to boost grades.
Often, they’ll eschew coffee and energy drinks when pulling an all-nighter and instead take Ritalin and Adderall, which are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
However, while these drugs are known to improve attention and concentration, there have been previous studies that dispute the belief that Ritalin and Adderall also help students improve their grades, whether they suffer from ADHD or not.
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