Health Services at the Kingston campus.

Adderall abuse a concern

By: Stephen Davis

Posted: 2/11/05

02/11/05 - Students are increasingly abusing the prescription drug Adderall on college campuses throughout the nation, but at the University of Rhode Island awareness of the issue is limited.

"I use [Adderall] the night before a big exam so that I can study longer or pull all-nighters," one student said who did not wish to be named.

"I take it when I have to do a quick round of studying. It's very effective," another student said.

Adderall, in pill form, is a prescription medication used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder/with Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD). It is usually prescribed to children and young adults who have trouble concentrating.

Director of Security Robert Drapeau said, "We suspect we have issues with various drugs, which is always a concern for us. This isn't necessarily a police crime, it can be seen more as a health issue."

However, according to some URI students, they are using it without a prescription for a variety of reasons. They said they usually use Adderall to help them concentrate while studying or doing homework since it acts as a stimulant, increasing the ability to focus.

Another student said her friends sometimes take it to lose weight. "It makes you lose your appetite so that you won't eat as much."

Other students use the drug for recreational purposes.

"I sometimes take it when I'm going to be up partying and drinking. It keeps me sober a lot longer and I'm able to stay up longer. I find it's a lot like doing cocaine but it's cheaper," a student said.

Adderall can be taken orally or crushed into a powder and snorted. It can also cause unintended adverse reactions as one student described.

"I took the extended release form of it and I stood up for three days straight. It didn't help me with studying it all. It actually had the opposite effect. It made me unable to study," the student said.

Medical Director of URI Health Services Dr. Fred Procopio said, "We're aware of the problem but not so much as to the extent of it. It's hard to say exactly how many students without a prescription are taking it."

One student said finding Adderall on campus is easy. "All you need to do is ask around and you'll eventually find it. Like, you can make one phone call and get it."

Another student referred to the library as an, "Adderall supermarket [because] you can go up to anybody and ask if they have it and they won't look at you weird."

Whether students have a prescription for it or not, "Adderall helps in concentration, not studying," Director of Health Services Chad Henderson said. "Just because you take it doesn't necessarily mean you're grades will go up."

Procopio added, "Just because it might help you study better, doesn't mean you have ADHD."

Some students explain the prevalence of Adderall is due to the fact that many students do not view using it as a crime.

"It's not like smoking pot or drinking, you can't really get in trouble for it. It's not as bad as that stuff. Plus, you're doing it so that you can study, not get high."

One student with an Adderall prescription said, "I only give it to my friends who need it for studying or have a prescription. I don't usually sell it or anything, I just give it away."

One student who sold the drug said, "I have no problem selling it. There are always kids wanting it."

Students on campus said that Adderall can cost anywhere from $2 to $10 a pill depending on the dosage.

"Taking any medication without a prescription is an arrest-able offence," Drapeau said. "As for Adderall, being a controlled substance, we would follow the same guidelines the state would."

Illegal use of Adderall is punishable under the Federal Controlled Substances Act.

"Adderall is intended to be taken by people with a prescription," Procopio said. He added side affects could include "an increase in pulse, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, dilated pupils, and nervousness."

One student said, "I can't stop smoking cigarettes when I'm on [Adderall] and I always kick my foot up and down."

Procopio said, "Adderall can be habit forming. It's important to remember that any medication has side affects ... students who get their prescription from a doctor at Health Services are closely monitored by psychiatrists."

With or without a prescription, interviewed students knew people taking Adderall. "There's this girlfriend of mine and she's really addicted to it. She talks a mile a minute and she's always antsy. She takes it all the time and she doesn't realize how crazy it's making her. She's a totally different person even though she gets it prescribed."

Procopio said, "We have people here at Health Services who can help with Adderall addiction in addition to any other substance abuse. We can provide counseling services for a variety of problems."

Students may contact Health Services at (401) 874-2246.