Adderall’s reputation causes students to abuse and misuse

The number of Adderall prescriptions has tripled over the last decade, a psychiatric clinical nurse told ABC-7.

The surge comes from Adderall’s effectiveness in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, but its illicit reputation is said to lie in fighting fatigue and improving focus, which has led to misuse and abuse.

Psychiatric clinical nurse Fred Arellano said Adderall is prescribed to patients with ADHD, narcolepsy and sometimes depression. However, he said about 10-15 percent of college students abuse the medication nationwide.

Adderall is a Schedule Two medication because of its high potential for abuse and misuse. The drug is a combination of four amphetamines, which can become addictive.

The prescribed medication can cause heart arrhythmia, seizures, shortness of breath, confusion, paranoia, psychosis and even depression.

Although health risks are involved students not prescribed the medication continue to misuse and abuse the drug.

Arellano said Adderall “helps [students] stay up for a good 49 hours and lets them focus on what they have to prepare for.”

One UTEP student told ABC -7 his reaction to the drug made him feel like he was going insane, while another student noted that the “extreme focus” allowed him to read a book for 24 hours straight without any distractions.

With finals approaching for most college students, the pressure to succeed is causing some to take the illegal drug. “You hear other students talking about it and you’re like, ‘Hey, what if I try it,’ and you think about it,” said one student.

Although it is illegal, some students don’t see the problem with taking the drug if it helps them in school.

Sophomore UTEP student Gabriel Kelly said, “It’s like coffee, it’s there if you want it and if you need it that’s cool, you can have your coffee.” However, he added that students can become dependent on the drug, which can become a problem.

“You become dependent on the Adderall, and you are just going to push everything aside till you get the Adderall, but you never do [your work],” Kelly said.

Arellano has a message for anyone thinking about taking Adderall illegally. “Don’t experiment with drugs that you are not familiar with; you need to be under the care of a psychiatric provider or a physician to assure that you are taking the correct medication.”

If you know of anyone taking Adderall without a prescription you can refer them to any one of these help centers:

El Paso Drug Treatment Centers
221 N Kansas St. #700
(915) 219-5848

http://www.elpasodrugtreatmentcenters.com/

Las Cruces Drug & Alcohol Rehab Center
3003 Hillrise Dr.
(575) 303-6893

http://www.recovery.org/browse/las-cruces-nm/

UTEP Student Heath Center
Union Building East
351 W. University Ave. Ste 100
El Paso, Texas 79968

http://chs.utep.edu/health/
Tel: (915) 747 – 5624
Pharmacy:(915) 747 – 6545

NMSU Campus Health Center
Corner of McFie and Breland, across the street from Zuhl Library
575-646-1512

http://chc.nmsu.edu/