Adderall The Drug of Choice for College Students

More and more students with heavy workloads are turning to Adderall as an academic performance enhancer.

Adderall not only increases concentration when in class, but also improves a user's focus for longer durations while studying. After a few doses, many students feel that they can't concentrate without this "smart drug."

Adderall is a medication for those who have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and is a stimulant of the central nervous system. Its purpose is to increase alertness and concentration, overall cognitive performance, and decrease fatigue.

Students who are not diagnosed with ADHD are resorting to the medication when Red Bull won't cut it.

College students from Harvard to SUNY Rockland have been turning to Adderall to help them through long nights of studying for important exams and completing assignments. Students claim that Adderall is the fastest and easiest way to keep their GPAs high, and so they are turning to it.

When asked to describe the drug,  freshman Mike Raible said, "Focusing miracle drug, never fails and always makes you focused."

Raible added that he started taking Adderall because his friends were using it. He takes it mostly to stay awake so he can study for big tests and write papers for class.

"I have been using it for about a year or less and it's the easiest drug to get a hold of besides pot," Raible said. "Before I use Adderall I am relaxed, [and afterward] I am alert and just overly awake and have to do something."

Most students will not go to their doctors to see if they really need Adderall. They may start using it to help them study, but then may find themselves addicted to it, or using it for pleasure.

"For the most part I use it for papers but I also use it at other times for enjoyment or for leisure," Raible said.

Depending on the person, Adderall can have serious negative effects on the body. When those who do not have ADHD take Adderall, instead of correcting and calming down their nerves, it increases dopamine levels in the body.

The body's ability to concentrate and generate dopamine is hindered, and must then rely on the  drug to sustain the levels.

Some of the side effects of taking Adderall include loss of appetite, insomnia, abdominal pains, temporary increase in blood pressure, weight loss, mood swings, vomiting, dizziness, asthenia (weakness), increased heart rate, fever and infections.

"Sometimes after it has worn off," Raible said, "I get extremely tired and want nothing but to go to bed."

"When I took Adderall it was horrible," said student Amy Moore. "My tongue became very itchy, I was shaking a lot and I felt as if I was literally going crazy."