The Ever Increasing Academic Doping Dilemma on College Campus

[miamigirl1970]

The non-medical usage of drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse, and Focalin on college campuses, has simply exploded! Along with this explosion has come an increase of depression disorders, and binge drinking among young adults. Not to mention that a mixture of these drugs and alcohol make THE PERFECT STORM. The surprising fact pointed out by USA Today College, is that many of these students are NOT "junkies" who are consuming the drugs to get high. They are well-educated and well-rounded students who can in essence perform and function normally without the drugs. The three top reasons for college student's stress are: Tuition fees, anxiety/depression, and binge drinking.

Students that do not have ADHD and who take Adderall have reported a heightened sense of motivation, focus and concentration. Keep in mind, these drugs do not make the person smarter by any means, they simply allow the student to stay focused. There are those students who also use the drug to get high. Adderall abuse is considered a serious problem among college students. When this is taken without a medical reason, a student can become addicted easily. There are many harmful side effects such as:

Low Blood Pressure, Headaches, Dry Mouth, Loss of Appetite, Depression, Irritability, Rapid mood swings, and Insomnia. If you are using this drug for focus, and are in college, and have these symptoms, please seek help. You have help on campus.

One of the reasons this drug and its use has skyrocketed over the last decade or so is that the FDA approved Adderall XR, which lasts much longer than other prescription stimulants. The attitude of many parents, college administrators and law enforcement towards Adderall has been inconclusive. Many think these drugs are just a little different than caffeine. One study has shown that at least 1/3 of college students may be misusing ADHD stimulants. This is troubling alone as these pills can lead to addiction, psychiatric breaks, and potentially suicide. While 30% of students may be using these drugs, it increases to over 75% in upper classes, especially those in a fraternity or sorority. Another scary point is that many students with prescriptions for these drugs believe that distributing to their friends in need of the "study drugs" is legal and a good way to make some bucks on the side. These drugs are Schedule II Narcotics. They are labeled highly addictive. There is a minimum sentence of five years in prison for getting caught selling them. Some are not even aware of this issue.

Please, if you know someone abusing or even using these drugs without a prescription, be kind. Talk to them. Share the information, not as a lecture, but as fact finding. These are highly addictive medications, that need to be taken for a true purpose, but not used to "study". If you need a pill to stay up or study, chances are, you are not truly motivated to be taking the course, or you need help in other ways to get back on the right path to complete your courses successfully. There are outlets on your campus to assist you, that will keep your issues confidential. Seek the proper office through your Student Affairs Department. Please understand the risks, and be safe!

[vishna]

I was on the bus once and this guy was telling another student how he got pills from another person and how they helped him take his final. It happens at my school.
That's wrong because not everyone is so willing to shell out money for medicine they don't need and possibly get caught and expelled and also... just it's wrong.
I think doctors should cut back on prescribing the medicine in the first place. It's become a bandaid for the real problem-hyper kids and parents not having enough time to work with them on top of a school system that goes against biology. Children need more play time and more hands on activities vs sitting down all day, especially little boys. Those pills can have really negative side effects that should really be avoided at all costs.

[madhatters4]

i saw this on my college campus over ten years ago. i saw friends who's physical and mental health deteriorated greatly from over dosing. awareness of drug use needs to be expanded beyond the simple recreational drugs (marijuana, cocaine, pain pill, heroine, etc)

[Rawrzz]

Oh, that's a pretty picture. That's not adderall, though. That's xanax. Adderall comes in orange caps with little ball-like-lookin'-things or blue or orange pills. Namely. You can easily tell it's xanax, otherwise known as "bars", as it's a long pill with 4 sections.

Though, the perfect storm is mixing uppers and uppers or downers and downers. Mixing uppers and downers isn't *that* bad. But, if you doubly repress your nervous system with double downers or doubly speed up your nervous system with double uppers, that can be very, very bad (mostly doubly downers; it's difficult to OD on uppers).

For instance, mixing benzos like xanax with alcohol. Indeed, most heroin overdoses occur when whomever mixed it with xanax or some other downer. That's not to say that mixing uppers and downers is *safe*, but I wouldn't call it "the perfect storm". Of course, the primary danger from it is not realizing how fucked up you really are. I did an 8 ball while drinking, and I felt entirely sober. Really don't see the allure of that, unless you really love wasting coke or speed, just so you can drink more.

I would be *significantly* more concerned over the fake pills that have been going around recently. In the past, pills were considered relatively safe. On the street, anyway. Pure. You *knew* what was in them: at least relative to street drugs. But that's changed: or at least, is a bigger issue, now. Namely oxycontin pills that are actually fentanyl. Fentanyl is significantly cheaper, thus the black market makes a lot more money on it. 1 million for a key instead of 80k for heroin. But fent is 100X stronger than morphine and is contributing to many overdose deaths.

Fake adderall containing meth and who knows what else, also exist, along with many other types of well-faked pills. More than attempting to shut it down, I would recommend informing people that they should make sure they know what they're taking, before they take it. And also informing them of the dangers of mixing drugs.

I've been in this shit since I was 14.

Personally, I think there's much to be learned from drug addiction. And, in addition, I'd quote Oscar Wilde, " Man being reasonable must get drunk; The best of life is but intoxication; Glory, the grape, love, gold - in these are sunk - The hopes of all men and of every nation" Of course, maybe I'm biased.

I would sooner tell people not to drink alcohol, before I told them not to pop addies. Relatively harmless.

[Rawrzz]

Though, I would recommend kratom before addies. It causes much of the same effects--concentration, euphoria, etc. The white strains anyway. Lovely red strains are sedating. Still legal in the U. S., though the douchebag DEA is attempting to ban it. They tried an emergency ban a couple months ago, but luckily, the kratom community didn't allow it. It's a plant from South-East Asia, used for 2,000 years, in the coffee family, but more badass.

Pretty much a miracle plant, in my opinion. It acts upon opiate receptors in the brain, but isn't an opiate. And it's been touted to help depression and be a very effective treatment for drug addiction. Particularly opiate addicts, as it maintains a cross-tolerance with opiates. But is not an opiate.

Addictive, but no one has ever died from kratom, alone.

Replacing drug use with less harmful intoxicant use is ideal, in my opinion. Much easier to achieve.

[miamigirl1970]

Kratom:

www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/kratom-effects.html

Just replacing one bad thing with another... the only positive would be if it was truly not addictive, and could help with opiate withdraw!

[miamigirl1970]

Thank you for your drug intelligence, the photos were just a highlighter. I am fully aware of what Xanax looks like. But thank you for the prescription drug intelligence! The perfect storm affect was referring to mixing the stimulant type drugs with binge alcohol and I am quite certain that is the upper and downer mix, but yes I agree the double up on the same can affect the nervous system , or shut down your respiratory system. Which I have seen happen first hand someone almost dying in front of me from mixing alcohol and xanax... not a good scene to see someone on a respirator in ICU from mixing!!!

[Rawrzz]

It seems we disagree, then. Narconon has myriad sticks up it's ass, as does NA. N. A.-Nazis. They even frown on caffeine.

"It's put people in emergency rooms." Most likely teens who took poor quality smokeshop kratom. It should state what the effect of those emergency room visits were: most likely mixing kratom with other drugs. It's blatant demonizing.

It states that kratom causes respiratory depression. That's incorrect, as is much of the alarmist BS on there. Opiates cause RD, main cause of OD--kratom doesn't; that's why it's very safe. There haven't been studies on kratom. And many of these negative effects are most likely the result of mixing other drugs with kratom or preexisting conditions.

Thailand made it illegal cuz it ate into their opiate profits.

And it is very, very effective at getting people off real opiates. I got off morphine with kratom.

But, I'll say this. Kratom is what keeps me alive, in addition it keeps my addictive personality in check.

[Rawrzz]

Would you also argue against electronic cigarettes?

[miamigirl1970]

Don't totally disagree, like I said I would have to research it more and determine if the benefits of it would outweigh the harms. I am open minded, I just would love to see something help opiate addicts from withdraw. Something that is non-addictive itself. E Cigarettes, I have no thoughts one way or the other. I don't smoke, don't know many who do in my immediate circle, as the ones who did have all died from a type of cancer, or have decided to quit.

[Rawrzz]

There really aren't many harms. It's basically the marijuana of opiates. Nothing is completely harmless, as I know very well with weed. But, look into it. It's also very effective for pain management. It's undoubtedly less habit forming and dangerous than opiates, and tolerance takes much longer to rise. It's also 3X as effective at treating pain than morphine. It could do A LOT of good, from treating depression and addiction to pain management. Probably other stuff, too.

Yes. In N. A., it's said that drug addicts usually die from cigarettes, rather than drugs. My aunt also died almost exactly two years ago, November 15th, from various cancers, most likely from cigs, at age 40. That's my point. Kratom is to opiates what e-cigs are to cigs. Cigs have 4,000 chemicals and around 80 carcinogens, whereas e-liquid has 1 carcinogen and like 3-10 chemicals. It has a carcinogen, so it could still be claimed to be damaging. But it is so less damaging than cigs, that it's way preferable.

[miamigirl1970]

Thanks for the insight. However, back to all the other drugs, way too much use and abuse on college campus!

[Rawrzz]

Sure. Meh. Guess I don't really see it as much of an issue. Like i said, relatively harmless. People dont OD and die from adderall. Like you said. The mixing is the dangerous thing. That's what they need to be informed about. Maybe also giving them ideas about how to come down and get sleep. They get a degree out of it and do a lot more work. They give it to kids, ya know. Granted at stable dosages, but just my opinion.

[miamigirl1970]

I know a couple through my son that are both addicted to adderall. They never sleep, but when they do or they don't have it, they sleep for days. They are like any other junkie or addict. I watch them take food out of their own house to give to the neighbor just to get adderall. It is sad, what people do for all of these drugs today!

[Rawrzz]

It is. To me, that's more or less an issue of experience and knowledge. I could do drugs responsibly, because i know how they work (in a laymen sense), and I know what to watch out for. As you say, eating and sleep becomes an issue with speed. So, always using a comedown drug at the end and reminding yourself to eat consistently helps tremendously. Or sticking to a strict schedule to not allow tolerance to build.

I feel it's more realistic to explain the risks and provide solutions to those risks, rather than only explaining the negatives in an unapproving manner. That's all im saying. Because it does come off as lecturing, and is thus dismissed. For instance, you can't stop teens from having sex, but you can tell them to use condoms. I ultimately agree with you that awareness is important. I would just add different kinds of awareness, as well.

[ClauseViter]

Please stop spreading DEA propaganda. a lot of college students enjoy taking drugs simply for the high. There is no reason to demonize this practice when people who use these substances are very well informed of the implications they place on the body.

I understand you are approaching the issue from a kind place out of genuine concern for other individuals but so long as drug possession remains a criminal offense all that these anti-drug movements do is encourage malicious treatment of people by authorities, especially when it becomes common practice to call the authorities on 'those crazy kids'. Having a criminal record for a drug possession is one of the most degrading and debilitating barriers while trying to pursue a professional carrer. Students lose the opportunity for higher education, liscensure, and equal employment rights simply due to a life choice you don't agree with.

I will not disagree with the the fact the addiction exist but so long as this problem is handled by the authorities instead of qualified health professionals we are ruining lives with these scare tactics. Like you said many students are highly functional yet choose to habitually integrate drug use into their lives. I would like to clearly emphasize the difference between habitual integration and addiction.

The foundation of behavior is repetition it is therefore extremely presumptuous to assume that because someone habitually uses a substance that they are addicted. Think about how this would sound if applied to another scenario. You brush you teeth twice everyday, are you this addicted to teeth brushing. Of course not. Addiction is marked by compulsive tendencies, by an inability to focus on other meaningful actions in other domains in life.

Please. Stop spreading messages like this.

[miamigirl1970]

I will not only continue to spread messages like this, but now reading your ludicrous analogy, I will write more. What you are saying is let college aged young adults take schedule two narcotic, let them obtain them however, don't blame the drug companies, let law enforcement handle them. Wow, your opinion is yours to have, but let's see how you would feel if your 19 year old child became an addict the first year of college, dropped out due to addiction, started working, had a child, more addiction problems, battled health issues, attempted suicide twice, lost Hus family, and is now incarcerated. In case you don't live in the real world, drug addiction is real, and destroys families. You are entitled to think what you want, and believe what you do, but I, will continue to write about any topic, I damn well please.

[JohnDoeJr]

I agree with decriminalizing drugs, but putting drug use to "habit" is faulty.
Addiction is not just a habit. It involves your brain's dopamine reward pathway.
There is a reason addicted people go through withdrawal symptoms. Sure, many people with dependency to drugs claim it's just a habitual thing, but take it away from them for a few days and you'll see how their attitude and behavior changes.

However, you can get addicted to many substances that are readily available. People become dependent on sugar, caffeine, Alcohol, games, massage, porn, and anything else that can be considered pleasurable.

Drugs like Adderall are not misused because "kids just wanna have fun" but because there are academic deadlines to be met. there are 12 hour residency shifts to get through, and the schools don't give two shits about the stress they place on their students.

[miamigirl1970]

@JohnDoeJr I somewhat agree, but watching my own child battle addiction, drugs just are horrible. Opiate addiction is beyond crazy. I know college is tough, I am working full time, and finishing a dual masters. If young folks can't handle stress of college, how the heck will they handle the real world of jobs, families, bills, kids, etc... if people need adderall for school study, my point is what will they need to survive life?

[JohnDoeJr]

I hope your child will get through what they're going through. I understand how destructive addiction can get. I had a friend overdose on cocaine. Another far relative has become permanently home bound because all the heroin she's done over the years left her with no motivation for anything in life.
But college can actually be more stressful than a job in my experience. I used to go to my school's computer lab for 14 hours at times just so I could turn in my projects on time. I rarely had to stay that long in the job once i started working as a developer. (And if I did they apologized and bought us dinner and let us out on breaks)

I think people should understand a drug and have respect for it's potential to ruin a life before they decide if the pros of taking it are worth. I don't think amphetamine salts are something you should take because you're not "feeling it today' But college students take it for the same reason so many athletes do steroids.

[miamigirl1970]

@JohnDoeJr Yes, I just wish there was more awareness, I am not judging, I just wish people knew all the things involved before trying that stimulant, or that high, or that downer, etc... sometimes the feelings are beyond good, but as I know from my son, once you get that initial euphoria, you spend your whole addiction trying to match it, and you never do... sad world, and surely not enough rehabilitation services, and yet the doctors and Big Pharma just keep pumping out the dope!

[Prof_Don]

At my alma mater, it was very well-known that students would want to get their hands on some Adderall and Ritalin, to help themselves concentrate and study during midterm and finals time! In fact one of my roommates really does have ADD, didn't take his Adderall, just so he can sell it during exam times to make money.

Students would literally spend $10-20 a pill on these drugs, to help themselves study and get better grades.

So contrary to popular belief, these students do NOT take the above drugs to "get high". They do it, to get better grades in school.

With all this competition within degree programs, and jobs being more and more scarce... can you blame them?

[CyberToothTiger]

I don't blame the college students as much as I blame
these doctors who don't care and they will prescribe these pills
these doctors forgot they took a oath and you get some pretty
blonde college girls go to them , they don't care they will prescribe
any kind of pills xanax, klonopin, adderall all cause of the girl is
gorgeous and some will even prescribe Oxycontin, Vicodin
but this is wonderful MyTake thanks for sharing with us.

[YepThatsIt]

Back in university I had not one but two professors tell us to go get ourselves an ADHD or similar classification since it would do nothing but help our academical lives.

Whilst I never took advantage of this myself I have plenty of friends who did. Their learning was substantially improved. The most notable thing about it appeared to be that they instantly got in the "I am studying and I am liking it" zone. I imagine this drug abuse is here to stay.

[miamigirl1970]

Wow how sad a professor who is supposed to be educated encouraged this. Terrible to hear.

[Paris13]

Beautifully Done, hun, Thanks so much for Caring and Sharing.
On top of Now Somehow Therapy Dogs and Hot Cocoa for Comfort, and Not even Attending Classes, we Have to worry about the Millenniums, hun, Doing this as Well. xx

[Paris13]

Thank you for the Kind Invite. xx

[Paris13]

Thank you for the Like. xx

[musicbrain5]

Nothing wrong with therapy dogs at all.

[Paris13]

@musicbrain5 No, but not for This, hun, sorry.:((xx

[coolbreeze]

It seems like college kids get high of anything. Yes great points a lot of this stuff has very bad side effects and some of the damage can be permanent because everybody body is different.

[Fathoms77]

Doping is a nationwide and now worldwide issue. Just stay away from all of it; legal or illegal, as best you can.

[neoagent1]

Really great take. I don't believe in drugs for everything. I think the prescriptions need to slow down a lot especially considering the USA pays the most for medical care out of any country in the world.

[FallOutBoy2001]

And then there's people like me, who should be on Adderall but are too afraid of being judged as cheaters, dopers, or drug resellers because most other college students on Adderall are one of those three.

[miamigirl1970]

What a shame, if you truly need it, you should seek the help!

[FallOutBoy2001]

I know I should, but I already get enough crap for being different

[Chico_brah]

You're young. I wouldn't hop on it until you are in college. This is coming from someone with pretty bad ADHD and has done research. I'm also someone who takes adderall himself. It's a hardcore drug so take precautions. https://www.addysafe.org/

[xxmamichulaxx]

You're afraid of getting medication to help you focus because other people who happen to be in college use these without getting prescribed to take them? Grow up

[Chico_brah]

@xxmamichulaxx I take it prescribed. It's a serious drug. Grow up? You're 17 lmao

[FallOutBoy2001]

@xxmamichulaxx No, I'm afraid of multiple things involving the drug, but I'm worried about being judged for having to take it

[martyfellow]

Sorry to hear this abuse of chemical stimulants is so prevalent now.

[SovereignessofVamps]

I think a lot of it's stress right? I thought you meant illegal dope though lol

[miamigirl1970]

It is illegal dope if you take it and don't carry a prescription for it!

[sedrftvgyhujik]

If they made it legal i think pepole would do it outside collage
education doesn't stop after collage by any means
and if they could make it safe it would be wonderful

[Anonymous]

Well there are 2 ways for students to cope with the overwelming stress and anxiety of university: drugs or suicide. Drugs seem like a safer choice

[miamigirl1970]

How about just coping with every day life and hitting it head on, what is wrong with that? The way I see it, if you can't deal with life as a college student, how on earth would you deal with a job, a family and all of the other responsibilities of life? That is lame!

[Opinion Owner]

"How about just coping" amazing advice. How about cancer patients "just cope with it"?
Too much stress and anxiety lead to depression, depression crushes your spirit and rots your soul to the point where you can't "just cope with it".
Anyway university is a place to make mistakes and learn from them so you don't make them later and lose your job

[sedrftvgyhujik]

by not having kids and being lucky and finding work you really enjoyed
or by taking them to help you perform in work as well and saving ever cent you can to retire really cheaply abroad so you can start earlier maybe do remote work part time or something when your there for 20-30 years then full retirement.
50-60 hours with pills 30-10 for 20 years.

[sedrftvgyhujik]

Even if you don't need them to get through a performance boost is nice.

[mostwomenshouldstfu]

Getting a head start on life...

[Anonymous]

Well this explains the anti trump protests

[SnowHearth]

It's sad.

[Adigelunar]

coool one