Adderall as a study aid?

Finals are approaching and it can be tough to deal with those late night study sessions, but some students have found a little pill known as Adderall to combat concentration problems and fatigue.

Adderall is usually prescribed to to those diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy, but for some students, the pressures of school has lead them to abuse the drug without much consideration to the health risks.

Jackie Defouw RN, the health educator for the U of M, said,"They think it's the silver bullet."

A 23 year-old graphic design senior, who chose to go by the name "Evee," said she relies on the amphetamine-based pill to stay awake in class and to stay awake during late night study sessions.

Evee said, "This time of year I use it often."

According to a 2007 student survey question about the prevalence of prescription drug abuse, said 18 percent of U of M students have used at least six times in 2006.

Evee takes 5-10 mg tablets of Adderall once a day, but said she ups the dosage when she has to cram or pull all-nighters.

She said,"I take very small amounts, but if I take a lot, I jump from thing to thing, and get a little moody."

That that kind of behavior is what worries Defouw, who said many students are not fully aware of the negative side-effects, such as loss of appetite, insomnia, irritability, nervousness, dry mouth, and even rashes and stomach pains.

"Students who abuse the drug don't know how much to take," Defouw said. "A professional needs to determine dosage."

People who have actually been diagnosed with ADHD and been prescribed Adderall, -have a different opinion about the so called "silver bullet."

Hunter Lang, a freshmen music major, was put on Adderall in fourth grade.

"I hated it," he said.

Before he was prescribed the drug, he said, he was an out-going guy, full of energy and sometimes "off-the-wall," but after-wards he was a completely different person.

"It sucked all the energy away, made me paranoid," he said.

For those diagnosed with ADHD, the reaction to Adderall is drastically different than that of a person who does not have it, but takes the drug anyway.

Evee said, "I think a lot of people use it for the speed aspect."

According to Defouw, Adderall effects the dopamine receptors in the brain which play a large role with hyper-activity and impulse control. For those who actually have ADHD, Adderall better controls those receptors; but for those who do not have ADHD, the drug increases the release of dopamine.

"It adds chemicals into the brain that you may already have enough of," Defouw said.

Instead of using prescription drugs as a study aid, Defouw pushed the importance of a good night's sleep and a healthy diet, both of which cannot happen when taking Adderall.