Drugs On Campus: Illegal vs. Prescription
Posted by casey on 09-08-2008
The prevalence of prescription drugs on college campuses is no secret, but just how ridiculously common they are still came as a bit of a shock to me when I started school. Walk into the library around finals week and you'll be greeted with tables and tables of students who are "addied up;" they will sit there with that crazed, glassy expression reading textbooks with interest comparable to tweens watching "High School Musical." Pulling all-nighters isn't new, but popping an adderall makes the process less painful.
It isn't tough to find ADHD meds because everyone thinks their own lack of attention requires drugs and many psychiatrists - especially after a referral from the campus health center - have no problem doling it out after just a quick appointment. I know this first hand after a friend of mine decided that she had an attention disorder that needed be treated - despite having earned all A's throughout high school and most of college.
She filled out a consultation worksheet and was promptly put on a high dosage of Adderall. Six months later, she has the sharp focus to study for hours but is no longer comfortable being in social situations (apparently, hanging out is a waste of time when you could be doing productive things) and she's prone to fits of rage. Not just moody fits, but full-on screaming, hysterical rage. Several friends have tried to intervene, but when one suddenly finds the focus to spend hours doing things like studying and working out - and the appetite suppressing side effect is doing its magic - denial is powerful.
ScienceDaily.com recently published a study on prescription drugs versus illegal substances in college life:
"This study suggests that educating students about the potential harm that can be caused by non-medical use of prescription drugs is important in reducing use of these drugs by college students. It also shows that getting the message to students who are sensation-seekers, who are a high risk group for all types of drug use, might be more of a challenge to prevention specialists" [Amelia Arria, Ph.D., of the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland] said….
…Anecdotal evidence suggests that most college students think it is safe to use prescription drugs non-medically. This study does not support the anecdotal evidence. It found that among students who had an opportunity to use, two out of three associated a high risk of harm with occasional non-medical use of prescription pain killers and stimulants.
This study also revealed that college freshmen believe that the occasional non-medicinal use of prescription pain killers and stimulants are less risky than cocaine, but more risky than marijuana or alcoholic beverages in excessive amounts (i.e. "binging"). While I agree that cocaine is very risky, it's frightening to think that because prescription stimulants are so readily available from a doctor, students have the perception that they must be safe.
On a personal note, I never paid too much attention to the risks of prescription drugs until the dramatic episode with my friend. I'm curious to know if anyone else has had a similar experience, or if they've had any first-hand experiences with these medications.
