Students Abusing 'Study Drugs' in Misguided Attempts to Boost Brainpower
By Hugh C. McBride
As has been the unfortunate case for decades, high school and college students throughout the world are continuing to misuse alcohol and other drugs. And though the preferred substances of abuse have changed over the years (with prescription pills enjoying a recent surge in popularity), the reasons behind this destructive behavior have remained consistent: to numb physical and emotional pain, experience altered states of consciousness, distract oneself from the stresses and pressures of life, and even to achieve greater levels of academic success.
A Growing Concern
It turns out that recent increases in the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications may be fueled at least in part by a belief that "off label" use of certain drugs can improve a student's ability to focus, concentrate, and remember information - which, the theory goes, can lead to improved performance in class and during examinations.
"Study drugs are indispensable to my academic career and its successes. I depend on them to achieve results that are otherwise unobtainable," an anonymous student at Montreal's McGill University told student reporter Jessica Hollows for her Jan. 24, 2008 article in the school newspaper.
"[Taking the drugs] gives me a sense of calmness. It gives me self-confidence. It feels as if I had studied two weeks in advance and had gotten a full night's sleep before the exam," the student said.
A 2002 study at the University of Wisconsin revealed that about one of every five college students had used prescription pills without having been prescribed them. Two years later, the Partnership for a Drug Free America reported that 10 percent of all U.S. teens had done the same. Though not all of these students misused the medications in question for academic purposes, the behavior does appear to be much more frequent than most parents realize. .
'Like Academic Steroids'
The substances that are most commonly abused for their perceived "brain boosting" potential are stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and their generic versions - drugs that are traditionally prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and similar conditions. In the United States, these drugs are all classified as Schedule II substances, which means that they have both legitimate medical applications and the potential for abuse (which, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, may lead to "moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.")
Dr. Eric Heiligenstein, who heads the University of Wisconsin Health Services' psychiatry department, echoed the DOJ's concerns by evoking another category of oft-abused (and dangerous) drugs during a June 2, 2005 interview with ABC News. "[Study drugs] are performance enhancing drugs, almost like academic steroids," Heiligenstein said.
Regardless of what Heiligenstein and other experts say, many students who use "study drugs" demonstrate little or no concern over the potential for addiction or other dangers.
"The drugs put you in a zone where you don't mind working and are able to concentrate for hours," a nameless-by-request student at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) told her school paper on Dec. 2. "I don't worry about the side effects at all, because I don't think I take them enough to do me any harm."
Neither Healthy nor Harmless
But just because these so-called "study drugs" have legitimate medical applications doesn't mean that they can be misused or abused without consequence.
According to information provided by the University of Iowa Student Health Service and the Partnership for a Drug Free America, the misuse of Adderall and Ritalin can result in the following effects:
- Dizziness and blurred vision
- Restlessness and nervousness
- Paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions
- Formication (the sensation of having bugs or worms crawling under one's skin)
- Rapid heart rate
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Increased blood pressure
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Impaired sex drive
In addition to risking their health, students who abuse these drugs may also be damaging the very thing they are attempting to improve. "Grades do not improve with the use of psycho-stimulants," Dr. Norman Hoffman of McGill University wrote in an email that appeared in the Jan 24 article. "Drugs can give students an unfair advantage over the short term, but users' overall functioning and ability to learn will be impaired by dependency on these drugs."
Symptoms & Treatment
Individuals who are abusing Ritalin or other stimulants may experience difficulty sleeping, stomachaches, headaches, dry mouth, and depressed appetite. They may also exhibit symptoms of psychological dependence, such as becoming unduly agitated or angry if they are unable to access the drugs when they are used to taking them (such as before a study session or in preparation for a big test).
Regardless of the reasons that a person begins to use a drug, once dependence or addiction sets in, stopping often requires professional intervention and medical supervision. Depending upon the nature and severity of a person's involvement with illicit substances, treatment options may include participation in a recovery support group, outpatient therapy, wilderness therapy, hospitalization or a stay in a residential treatment facility, or a combination thereof.
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SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center
SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center has developed a comprehensive treatment program specializing in helping adolescents who are struggling with substance abuse and co-occuring issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, impulse control, family conflict, grief, and stress. SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center offers an adolescent substance abuse treatment program, with expertise also in frequently co-occuring problems that interact with and perpetuate the cycle of substance abuse. The 12 step model is a foundation of their treatment program, as it is proven effective not only by recent research studies, but also because it is so widely available as a support after students complete our program. There is also a capacity to adapt therapy approaches for students who struggle with the 12 step model. SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center is a licensed Adolescent Residential Treatment Center that offers individualized programs for troubled teens who are struggling with substance abuse issues, academic difficulties, low self-esteem, lack of motivation, anger management issues, and depression. SunHawk is also a fully accredited school.
How to Help an Out of Control Young Adult
According to all conventional wisdom, a person who abuses drugs or alcohol has to want to change before any progress can occur. So what can a parent do to help a teenager who refuses to admit they have a problem? Or if they do admit it, what if they adamantly refuse to do anything about it? Or even if they do agree to get help, what if they end up falling short and returning to their old ways? Continue reading to learn how you can help an out of control young adult.
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