Study Drugs
Comm 1020
July 1, 2013
Study Drugs and College Students I. Introduction A. “As my classes started adding up my junior year, I seemed to have an immense amount of work and absolutely no time to do any of it. I had always heard about people taking Adderall to focus, study longer, stay awake. Essentially, to create the time that they needed. So, as the workload piled up, my search for Adderall began. Within twenty four hours I had five pills in my hand, costing me a mere five dollars. Five dollars for an A on an exam didn 't seem as if it were any kind of price to pay at all (In Their Own Words 'Study Drugs ', 2012). B. We will now learn what types of study drugs are out there, why students take these drugs, and what types of effects these drugs have on students long and short term. II. What are the drugs that students use to help them in their studies? A. The most commonly used study drug is Adderall (mixed salts amphetamine) 1. “Adderall is indicated for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children ages three and older; it is also indicated for narcolepsy.” (Editorial Board, 2012) 2. Adderall works by stimulating the central nervous system, which increases mental awareness and also causes sleeplessness (Adderall (CII), 2010). B. Other commonly used study drugs are Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, and Vyvanse. C. These drugs have similar effects in that they are classified as Psychostimulants, which raises the user’s blood pressure and increases focus. (Desantis, 2010) III. Because these drugs work in increasing alertness and decreasing fatigue students use them. A. A 2008 study by Alan DeSantis the head of Communications at the University of Kentucky said, “81% of students believed that the use of study drugs had little or no physical risk” (Desantis, 2010).
B. The pressure put on students to get good grades is a reason that students look for ways to help them in their studies.
C. The
July 1, 2013
Study Drugs and College Students I. Introduction A. “As my classes started adding up my junior year, I seemed to have an immense amount of work and absolutely no time to do any of it. I had always heard about people taking Adderall to focus, study longer, stay awake. Essentially, to create the time that they needed. So, as the workload piled up, my search for Adderall began. Within twenty four hours I had five pills in my hand, costing me a mere five dollars. Five dollars for an A on an exam didn 't seem as if it were any kind of price to pay at all (In Their Own Words 'Study Drugs ', 2012). B. We will now learn what types of study drugs are out there, why students take these drugs, and what types of effects these drugs have on students long and short term. II. What are the drugs that students use to help them in their studies? A. The most commonly used study drug is Adderall (mixed salts amphetamine) 1. “Adderall is indicated for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children ages three and older; it is also indicated for narcolepsy.” (Editorial Board, 2012) 2. Adderall works by stimulating the central nervous system, which increases mental awareness and also causes sleeplessness (Adderall (CII), 2010). B. Other commonly used study drugs are Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, and Vyvanse. C. These drugs have similar effects in that they are classified as Psychostimulants, which raises the user’s blood pressure and increases focus. (Desantis, 2010) III. Because these drugs work in increasing alertness and decreasing fatigue students use them. A. A 2008 study by Alan DeSantis the head of Communications at the University of Kentucky said, “81% of students believed that the use of study drugs had little or no physical risk” (Desantis, 2010).
B. The pressure put on students to get good grades is a reason that students look for ways to help them in their studies.
C. The
Cited: (2010, May). Adderall (CII). Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2013, from www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/.../011522s040lbl.pdf In Their Own Words 'Study Drugs '. (2012, June 9). New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/10/education/stimulants-student-voices.html?_r=0#/#1 Adderall abuse during exams should be cheating. (2013, March 22). The Exponent. Retrieved June 30, 2013, from http://www.purdueexponent.org/opinion/editorals/article Desantis, A. D. (2010). ' 'Adderall is Definitely Not a Drug ' ': Justifications for the Illegal Use of ADHD Stimulants. Substance Use & Misuse, 45(1/2), 31-46. Editorial Board. (2012, July 19). Use of 'study drugs ' gives unfair advantage. Iowa State Daily. Retrieved June 30, 2013, from http://www.iowastatedaily.com/opinion/article Review Staff. (2010, November 16). Adderall not a safe studying aid. The Review (University of Delaware). Retrieved July 2, 2013, from http://www.udreview.com/editorial/adderall-not-a-safe-studying-aid