Stimulants: The Academic Choice

It was first assumed that kids were in danger of going to their parents liquor cabinet. Now it seems that the medicine cabinet is the new hot spot.

What was first known as a drug for young children with ADD or ADHD, has now turned to a students solution for getting A’s.

“This is a population that is really good at keeping it under-wraps,” says Johanna Hammer, Clinical Therapist and Social Worker.

“For these students, this is the jackpot drug,” she said. Hammer explains that the reason these students love medications like Adderall is because it’s a stimulant.

“It’s not like an anti-depressant which has a much lower rate of success,” she said. “With amphetamines you are able to feel the effects immediately.”

Stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta affect the central nervous system. When a person has ADD or ADHD they are not able to keep focus, and can very distracted in mid-conversation.

These drugs are able to send neurotransmitters to the brain and create an "alert" or "wired" feeling and then can cause the person to feel very focused on a task.

Sarah Hall, 24, is a pharmacy student at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). She has been struggling with a severe case of ADHD since she was a junior in high school.

"I remember looking at the teacher in the beginning of the class, and then all of a sudden class was over," she said. "I had no idea what went on... I would just look outside, or just look at the text in my textbook."

Sarah had no idea that it was ADHD, and it wasn't until she went from getting A's to getting C's, that her parents took notice.

"They were very surprised," she said. "But once it was figured out that I had it-and I was medicated... I started to perform well... academically again."

But now her biggest challenge are her friends.

“It seems that as soon as they find out that you have Adderall, you get harassed for it,” she said. “I can’t even tell anyone that I have ADHD because then you get friends of friends offering you money for them [medication]."

It is now very common for any student to get there hands on Adderall. And according to Boston University senior, Nina Sugawara, she has seen students offer as much as $50 for each pill.

“People can get addicted to this,” Hall said. “I’ve had my medication stolen from me in the library. They didn’t take my wallet, or my phone...just the drugs.”

When the Administration of MCPHS was asked how the issue of students stealing/abusing drugs was being addressed, they only issued this statement from Michael Ratty, Director of Communications:

Per federal guidelines, the impact of abuse of a diverse array of drugs (including stimulants) is addressed in the drug policy section of the student handbook. Also, Counseling Services and the Dean of Students office keep regular supplies of brochures about prescription drugs and abuse of prescription drugs in our waiting rooms. In addition, Resident Assistants are trained to discuss the issue with students. Last year, the College also produced a poster campaign about various types of drug abuse.

“If you feel that you need to take something in order to to do anything...That can be a sign of addiction,” Hammer said.

Doctor Chavin at Tufts Medical in Boston says that there are a lot more students who try to convince him that they have ADD.

The symptoms unfortunately are not too hard to fake. The symptoms include being unfocused, distracted, and fatigued.

“I’m not just going to give a prescription to someone who says they can’t focus,” he said. “I always suggest to try turning off the TV first.”

Hammer says that this particular drug is hard to fight.

“These students are not taking this to get high,” Hammer says. “They are taking these drugs to excel.”

This could be the reason why it is so hard to address. Because how can you fight something that is actually bringing good.

“I use to get girls who were cutting themselves,” Hammer said. “I now get scholars and students. These people don’t have pot dealers. They are getting legal prescriptions for it.”