The point at which a person comes to the level of desperation to risk the rest of their lives for a decent grade in secondary and postsecondary education occurs all too often. Many college students around the largest universities of the United States have experienced this feeling of desperation, so naturally they tried to find a solution. The solution falls into the hands of Amphetamine or Dextroamphetamine, known better as Adderall, a staggering amount of the time. Students obtain Adderall illegally, as it is a prescription drug, for the common belief around United States college campuses that it improves students’ focus and attention span, while also prolonging the time students can go without sleep. Adderall can be better understood through the explanations of its legal and illegal uses along with the success of both, the side effects and legal consequences of its illegal use, and with how the illegal uses of Adderall and the drug itself will continue into the future.
Adderall can be a life changing medicine when prescribed to a patient with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or patients suffering from narcolepsy. That is Adderall’s general, legal purpose, to help control the mental illness of ADHD. ADHD is a problem in which the sufferer is unable to retain focus on anything for a varying amount of time, depending on the degree of severity the sufferer is diagnosed. ADHD can also cause its sufferers to be overactive and to be unable to control their general behavior (Merill). However, when Adderall is not prescribed to help treat either ADHD or narcolepsy, the only way for one to obtain it is through illegal drug sales. Typically, when Adderall is obtained illegally the goal of its user is to help prolong the amo...
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Schiffner, Jennifer. "Harder, Better, Faster Stronger: Regulating Illicit Adderall Use Among Law Students and Law Schools." Selected Works of Jennifer Schiffner. N.p., 2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. .
Wang, Shirley S. "ADHD Drugs Don't Boost Kids' Grades." Online.wsj.com. The Wall Street Journal, 8 July 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. .
Workman, Thomas A., and Gregory Eells. "Assessing the Risks and Issues: Prescription Drug Abuse on Campus." Stetson University. N.p., 2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. .
Prescription and pharmaceutical drug abuse is beginning to expand as a social issue within the United States because of the variety of drugs, their growing availability, and the social acceptance and peer pressure to uses them. Many in the workforce are suffering and failing at getting better due to the desperation driving their addiction.
Another persuasive technique we used was appealing to dramatic benefits of the post-treatment of adderall by having a student imitate exaggerated behaviors of short attention span and impulsive nature that resulted in poor grades. Then after the same student takes adderall, he portrays a completely different character and becomes very attentive and productive in his studies, which results to an A in his next assignment. This is critical in Singh’s “Not Just Naughty: 50 years of stimulant drug advertising”, as he emphasizes how drug advertisements commonly present a post-treatment normal reality of highly idealized “portrait of an ideal family—bright, at...
This is said with the idea that even though Adderall is a Schedule II Substance, it doesn’t seem as dangerous or serious as heroin. A big part in the philosophy of this is because it’s extremely easy to obtain on college campuses. In an interview done by Hercampus.com, Amanda states that, “On my campus, […] Adderall is extremely easy to find. Sometimes you don’t even have to ask for it if your friends take it regularly and study with you often […] People will try to sell [Adderall] to get cash for laundry money” (Gladu 2015). Even though it’s a Schedule II drug, a nationwide survey showed that it’s only considered as “very dangerous” by two percent of students. The survey also showed that the percent of student that believe nonmedical use of Adderall is “not dangerous at all” or only “slightly dangerous” is a whopping eighty-one percent (Zadrozny 2015). In short, the students that take Adderall don’t see how it can affect them because they are getting the drug from their friend, or classmate, and not in some dark alleyway associated with the more intense
Duran had already been on probation with the medical board of California due to similar activity in the past. There are many ways to get Adderall, but one way is through psychiatrists who do not perform all the basic tests necessary for an adult to get a diagnosis first. A college student may know someone with ADHD and buy some pills off of that person. As crazy as it sounds it happens, and it happens a lot. Students are aware of what goes on but it is accepted because that person is only trying to get their grades up. A college student by the name of Cheyne spoke briefly about what he remembered the process to be like. In his case, he went through his primary medical institution and asked for the prescription. His primary care physician then got him an appointment with a local psychiatrist of whom then they could if applicable prescribe him Adderall. He said that all he really had to do was talk about his feelings and why he thinks he needs the drug, he ended up getting his prescription. Although Cheyne’s story does not and cannot apply to everyone who attempts to get a prescription for Adderall, many people will try. Cheyne actually has ADHD and Adderall indeed helps him, but that is because it adjusts certain chemicals within the brain. Amber Dance author of “Smart drugs: a dose of intelligence” writes that even athletes are trying to take Adderall in order to stay focused. Specifically, she talks about gamers who take Adderall to try and stay awake and focused to continue playing. Yes, there is some research to support the fact that Adderall and stimulants alike may have a small positive effect on people the majority of the information found that it affects people who do not have ADHD negatively
...y, H. (2008). Drug use and abuse: a comprehensive introduction (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
In the article “Brain Gain: The Underground World of “Neuroenhancing” Drugs” (Yorker 2009) Margaret Talbot discusses the misuse of prescription drugs that enhance academic performance at the college level. First Talbot introduces readers to a young college history major at Harvard University named Alex who receives a description of a demanding, busy life which seems impossible to control without the safety unapproved adopted use of a drug named Adderall. After that Alex’s dependency on the prescription drugs cognitive enhancers is described when he asks his doctor to increase the amount of intake and the listing of his daily routine on using Adderall during a week that required him to write four term papers. Next Talbot describes a personal
The drug is a big problem at many colleges today, and is getting worse by time. There are more and more drugs circling in college atmospheres, where many students aren’t aware. If people learn what is happening around them, and watch out for each other, the problem should be able to be contained.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder that causes children to have problems with paying attention, trouble with following instructions, have impulsive behaviors and become easily distracted. Medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, are used to treat the symptoms of this disorder by helping the patient to focus and pay attention while also curbing their impulsive behavior and hyperactivity. Side effects of these medications are, but not limited to, anxiety, addiction and in some cases psychosis. Proponents of giving ADHD medication to children argue that ADHD is a real disorder in children and the medication does improve the symptoms of the disorder by a large margin as well as being cost effective. Also, not only are the parents happy with the outcome of their children taking the prescribed medication but so are the children themselves. Proponents also argue that by not letting parents of the children, young adults and adults choose to take these prescriptions when diagnosed with ADHD that the medical and psychiatric communities would be in violation of the principle of autonomy. Justice as well would be violated since most of the burden of dealing with all the symptoms caused by this disorder would fall onto those with ADHD and partly on their families. Opponents of giving ADHD medication to children point out that it is not only going to children with ADHD but also being prescribed to those not diagnosed with the disorder as well as the pills being given or sold to other children and young adults. They also claim that the full side effects of ADHD medication are still not known and could have harmful long- lasting side effects on the children taking the medications. In this case, the princip...
College can be a challenge with endless papers, tests, and other tasks. A pill that allows extreme focus helps accomplish necessary tasks. Adderall is a prescription medication given to patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Jaffe). However, this drug has become known as a “smart drug” around college campuses (“Daily News & Analysis”). About 6.4 percent of college students have taken Adderall without a prescription (Carver). At more competitive schools, about twenty-five percent of students have taken Adderall (Pantovich). Students take the drug with hope to improve a grade. However, in the long run, the student only hurts himself or herself.
Kelland, Kate. "Children with ADHD say stimulant drugs help them: study." Huffington Post. 10 14 2012: n. page. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.
Stimulant drugs are widely used to treat the symptoms of ADHD. These stimulants dramatically reduce the hyperactivity of sufferers and improve their ability to focus, learn and work. Such medication may also improve physical coordination, for instance handwriting and sports. Research completed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that these medicines may also help children with an accompanying conduct disorder to control their impulsive, destructive behaviours. The three medications that have been proven by the NIMH to be most effective in both children and adults suffering from ADHD are: methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine or Dextrostat), and pemoline (Cylert). (NIMH 1999) Yet there is currently much research on the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, such as t...
The current situation of drug control in the United States is imperfect and inadequate. Millions of men and women, both young and old, are affected by illicit drug use. It costs the United States about $6,123 every second because of drug use and its consequences (Office). Moreover, 90 percent of all adults with a substance use disorder started using under the age of 18 and half under the age of 15. Children who first smoke marijuana under the age of 14 are five times more likely to abuse drugs as adults than those who first use marijuana at age 18. Finally, the children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop problems with alcohol (Prevent). Current legislation that has to do with the United States’ drug control policy is the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances (Shannon). In 1966, Congress passed the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act also known as the NARA. This legislati...
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.
Office of the National Drug Control Policy. "National Survey on Drug Use and Health." May 2008. Print. 26 March 2014.
The use of illegal drugs in the United States and other countries around the world is one of the biggest problems in today community. Illegal drugs are drugs that are restricted by the government. Moreover, some medical drugs have chemicals that can help people with pain and stress. But when people are under the influence of illicit drugs, they can experience many side effects such as: liver cancer, heart, and brain disease. Illegal drugs are being used by many types of people around the world; they cost a large amount of money and negatively affect people both psychologically and physically.