As everyone from kindergärtners to college students head back to school
for a new semester this year, it is important to bring to light a rising trend:
“study drugs”. Of course you won’t see any kindergärtners taking study drugs,
but high school students and especially college and university students are at
high risk for abusing these drugs.
Dexedrin, Adderall
and Ritalin are the most well-known study drugs. For those who aren't familiar
with these drugs, they are prescription drugs geared to treat attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or attention deficit disorder (ADD). People
who suffer from ADD/ADHD, a psychiatric disorder, find it hard to concentrate
on one task and get distracted easily. The difference between ADD and ADHD is
that the latter shows signs of hyperactivity while the former does not.
Regardless, however, one thing all of these people tend to have in common, is
difficulty focusing on school work.
Dexedrin,Adderall
and Ritalin are stimulants, a type of cognitive enhancer that allows those with
ADD/ADHD to focus ‘normally' on tasks at hand, including school work. Since the
1970s however, there has been a lot of discussion about whether or not doctors
are too quick to label bored, fidgety children as having ADHD. In India,
psychologists have noted that up to 14% of children between 4 and 17 years of
age have been diagnosed with ADHD – which means these children have been
prescribed medication, usually Adderall or Ritalin. Therefore there are a
significant number of youngsters in each level of school who have access to,
and take these drugs.
It is unclear
as to when the trend picked up popularity, but at one point, students who did
not have ADHD/ADD clearly tried the medication and found that it gave them a
new energy, an alertness and the capability to power through study sessions or
papers easier than before. What helps a student with ADHD study at a regular
level is said to help other students study at an above-average level. And when
students are feeling under pressure to get good grades, the chances of them
trying the drugs rise.
A 2011 study
of health students in a university found that over 90% of students who had used
these drugs without a prescription did so to “focus and concentrate during
studying.”
The problem
with this, however, is that these drugs can cause psychiatric and physical
dependence – especially in those who have not been diagnosed with ADHD/ADD.
Stopping use after a period of frequent using can make the user feel like they
don't function properly without the drug. Short-term side effects of the drug
include sleeplessness, headaches, irritability and depression. Long-term
effects include nervousness and a decreased sex drive.
Not only does
this drug abuse cause health problems and potentially addiction, using
prescription drugs without a prescription is illegal. If you suspect that
someone you know is abusing “study drugs”, pass along this information. Grades
are important – but what's more important is your health (and staying out of
jail). If you know someone who has an addiction problem, contact a professional
for guidance on how to handle the situation properly, and get them the help they
need.
(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original
authors.)
No comments:
Post a Comment