Like many Oklahoma State U. students, Blake Zimmerman, a sports media broadcasting junior, takes Adderall to improve focus for academic performance and daily life.
“I need it,” Zimmerman said. “It really isn’t a choice. I take it every morning so I pay attention in all my classes. If I don’t take it, it’s like my mind is a TV and someone else is changing the channel.”
Adderall, a prescription stimulant, is intended for people diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression. People who suffer from ADHD are frequently impulsive and struggle with organizational skills, anger and mood swings, according to WebMD.com
Marilyn Adams, an agricultural economic and accounting junior, said she sought a prescription because she saw how it helped others.
“I have many friends, especially people who are very involved on campus or busy working and attending school, that take Adderall,” Adams said. “I have studied around people who have taken it and I noticed they were very alert and productive with their studying time. This lead me to seek an Adderall prescription. Many of my friends have gotten prescriptions through a doctor by being diagnosed with ADHD.”
Although many students have acquired the drug through legal prescriptions, some students have taken the use of Adderall beyond it’s intent by purchasing it illegally both to increase focus for study and to decrease the effects of alcohol.
“I know a lot of people who taking it so they could stay up and drink,” Zimmerman said. “People offer to buy my pills all the time, especially during dead week and finals”.
Wanda Moore, coordinator of nursing at OSU’s University Health Services, said mixing Adderall, a stimulant, with depressants such as alcohol can be life threatening.
Four Loko, the alcoholic and caffeinated beverage that caught the attention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has been regulated because the amount of caffeine in the original version of the drink was so high that inebriated consumers would continue to drink and stay wide awake, instead of passing out. This is the same reason students cite for taking Adderall to prep for a night of partying.
Zach Wright, a broadcast and electronic media and communication senior at the University of Oklahoma, said he has noticed and experienced similar things on OU’s campus.
“When you’re on Adderall, you don’t feel the effects of alcohol so quickly,” Wright said. “I have a lot of friends at OSU…You can get a pill for $1.50 there. I would say three-fourths of each school uses Adderall.”
According to the DEA Website, although stimulants have effects that appeal to young people, such as extended wakefulness and reduced appetite, the drug can also have a darker side. Chronic, high-dosage use for a week of tests or a weekend of partying can result in aggression, panic and paranoia, according to the Website. Tolerance and psychological dependency occurs rapidly in drugs like Adderall. According to the DEA, obtaining a prescription drug or taking someone else’s medication is a felony.
Although Adderall may be easy to obtain, there are alternatives to maintaining energy and focus, Moore said. Adequate nutrition, rest and fitness can improve academic performance and overall wellness.