Study drugs are on the rise, but not to get high. High school and college students are using a variety of stimulants in order to cram in more study time into the evening hours and maintain concentration in class. They believe it’s making them smarter. However, the grades are coming at too high of a price.
The Purpose for Commonly Abused Stimulants
The most popular stimulants of choice for students are those intended to treat narcolepsy and ADHD. When prescribed by a doctor and used according to the specifications for each patient, medications such as Adderall, can be beneficial. These drugs are intended to affect the neurotransmitters in the brain, allowing those with hyperactivity to settle.
Individuals who have been unable to focus on academics due to Attention Deficit Disorder have had promising results as well. Study drugs (stimulants) have also proven to assist people with narcolepsy. A serious condition that causes victims to lose consciousness at any given moment.
It is important to note that there are risks involved with these medications, even when they are monitored by a physician. A lack of appetite, seizures, depression, an irregular heartbeat, insomnia, and blurred vision name only a few of the side effects that can come with regular use of stimulants.
Students are Putting Their Futures on the Line
When students choose to use prescription stimulants in order to give their academics a boost, they are putting much more than a report card at risk. When they use drugs that were not prescribed for their own condition, they are in violation of the law. They are also placing themselves at a higher risk of becoming addicted.
Research has shown that those who use study drugs are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs as well. Worst of all, high school and college students could be shortening their lives. When they are prone to depression, stop eating, and can’t sleep, it is common to make poor choices. Students are wreaking havoc on their bodies as they try to make the grade.
Further reading: Facts about Teenage Drug Use
Source: BestMastersPrograms.org
