Un-prescribed Adderall College Use Continues to Climb

In efforts to achieve focus better, study longer hours and achieve higher grades, college students across the U.S. are reaching for prescription drugs that were not prescribed for them. As the trend has spread out over the country over the last decade or more, news media from The Today Show to college newspapers have run exposés and features on the drug abuse.

Ritalin, its sister drug Concerta and Adderall are the top drugs normally mentioned by students. All are stimulants that can cause wakefulness and increased focus for the person who wants to study late at night.

Adderall is Much the Same as Methamphetamine, an Addictive and Illegal Drug

Adderall, a drug chemically similar to methamphetamine, is a strong stimulant and is addictive. It’s showing a growing popularity among college students anxious to compete. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than six prevent of all full-time college students abused Adderall in the last year. Nearly all of these students were current binge drinkers as well.

What is truly shocking and even more dangerous is that college students abusing Adderall are far more likely, overall, to be abusing another prescription or illicit drug such as marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers or Ecstasy.

“The great problem for our college students is that just as they are starting out in life, they are running a huge risk for addiction,” reported Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions for Narconon Arrowhead. “Losing the battle for sobriety can mean seeing one’s grades go down, one’s scholarships go away and one’s future become bleak. We have students recover their dreams on Narconon Arrowhead’s effective drug rehab program every year. They can then return to school sober and stable and get that dream back on track.”

Adderall May Make College Students More Alert But it Can Cause Other Problems

Adderall can have similar side effects as methamphetamine: loss of appetite and disinterest in eating; difficulty sleeping; headaches; weight loss; nausea with vomiting; dizziness or fainting, higher risk of infections; depression and high blood pressure. As a stimulant, Adderall will increase the heart rate and respiration rate. In a few people, this can cause damage to the heart or blood vessels. The Canadian government has banned this drug while the US Food and Drug Administration just added warnings to the drug instructions.

According to USA Today and a story in 2006, more than 3,000 people go to emergency rooms each year with adverse effects from this class of drug. Common problems included serious heart problems, including heart attacks and strokes, abdominal pain, rashes and spasms, pain or weakness in muscles.

Adderall is a dangerous drug for a young person who is pursuing studies and career goals. At Narconon Arrowhead, and other locations including Narconon Vista Bay the program helps people clean up the damage done by addictive drugs and return to life, ready to achieve healthy goals again.

Over the years, seven out of ten Narconon graduates stay sober for the two years we monitor them after they go home.

For more information on drug rehab program at Narconon Arrowhead and how you or a college student you love can recover from Adderall addiction, call today: 1-800-468-6933.

References:

http://www.samhsa.gov/samhsaNewsletter/Volume_17_Number_3/Adderall.aspx
http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/student-amphetamine-use-is-dangerous-and-illegal/
http://adderallsideeffects.org/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-24-adhd-drugs_x.htm

Narconon offers a very successful rehabilitation program including Narconon Objectives which help to handle addiction permanently.