Adderall: ADHD, Cheating, and Legalization [W:13]

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder is a neurologically based behavioral disorder that afflicts children and adults alike (1). Characterized by inability to pay attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive actions, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD for short, this disorder has become a popular diagnosis for students who claim that they are unable to concentrate or focus on their studies (2). Much research has been done in recent years regarding ADHD, its neurological basis in the brain, and how to treat it effectively (1). Many prescription drugs have been released onto the market that effectively target the levels of certain hormones which in turn enable one to counteract the symptoms of ADHD (3).

However, drugs such as Adderall, which were developed solely for those properly diagnosed with the disorder, are beginning to be used recreationally by those whom admit to not having ADHD, but either find that they perform better with its aid or simply enjoy the high of the prescription drug (4). What does this mean for college students? Is recreational use of this drug dangerous physically? Mentally? Does the use of Adderall by those not diagnosed with pose the threat of an addiction? Is an addiction to a drug that seems to make you more efficient a bad thing?

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Adderall is a psychostimulant drug. It belongs to the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. Adderall is used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.[SUP][1][/SUP] Adderall is a combination of four amphetamine salts (racemic amphetamine aspartate monohydrate, racemic amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharide, and dextroamphetamine sulfate). It works as a reuptake inhibitor for dopamine and norepinephrine.[SUP][2][/SUP] It is available in two formulations: IR (Instant Release) and XR (Extended Release). The immediate release formulation is indicated for use in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy,[SUP][3][/SUP] while the XR formulation is approved for use only with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).[SUP][2][/SUP] Important side effects of therapeutic dextroamphetamine include stunted growth in young people and occasionally a psychosis can occur at therapeutic doses during chronic therapy as a treatment emergent side effect.[SUP][4][/SUP] When abused at high doses the risk of experiencing side effects and their severity increases. May include sweating or shaking.

Like other stimulant drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, Adderall directly affects the mesolimbic reward pathway in the brain. Amphetamine salt preparations are considered to have high abuse potential, and it is classified as Schedule II by the US DEA. With the Safe Streets and Communities Act in Canada, Adderall has been reclassified from Schedule III to Schedule I.[SUP][5][/SUP]

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Submitted by anonanswers (guest) on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 4:31am.

So my mom is on adderall and my younger brother is on ritalin. Sometimes I take my moms adderall, sometimes in the mornings before i go to school sometimes after school or on weekends it all depends on when i did it last and what i am trying to achieve on a certain day. On Sunday I did a line and cleaned my whole room and most of the house. Today I did a line before i went to school, by the time i am in class ready to write my focus level has increased dramatically.Today, I had a test on tournament styles and over the weekend i had been reviewing because i didnt want to do bad on this test. And at the end of all my review I still couldnt remember much. So today, i snorted some adderall and went to school to do this test, the teacher gave us about 10-15 mins to review, the test came around and i remembered everything. After school i came home and did another line and finished most of my final English paper that i still have a month to complete. I do think adderall has very positive benefits when it comes to concentration and motivation and procrastination.

There are negatives to this drug too. A year ago around this time, i was feeling very dependent on adderall/ritalin. I had been increasing the amount i was taking and leaving hardly any time to sober up before doing it again. I began to get very skinny and feel brittle, i could not sleep at all and was starting to vomit and have hallucenations because i was so sleep/nutrients deprived. I knew i was facing a problem with addiction because i started to feel sad once i stopped vomiting. I would have rather been sick to my stomach and going crazy instead of taking time to be sober. After not sleeping for 2 days i was laying in bed trying to sleep, everytime i opened my eyes the walls were moving and when i closed my eyes all i could hear was children laughing. After that scary experience i decided to let it go, once i was off of it for about a week i totally forgot about it until a year later. I think that once you have sobered up from adderall it is much easier to avoid it, but if you dont let your self take a break your body suffers. Everything in moderation!

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Submitted by Serendip Visitor (guest) on Wed, 12/12/2012 - 8:00am.

I am 20 years old and just finished my 5th semester of college. I took adderall for the first time 5/12 and was very pleased with the results. I felt as though I have never focused as well as I did that day, in my entire life. I have always worried about taking drugs that have amphetamines in them because of the chance of addiction. Although I worry about it, I am currently taking an adderall right now. This is my third adderall I have taken this semester and my second adderall in about week.

I honestly believe I have add. When I was in middle school my mom thought I had it so we went to a psychiatrist. We explained to the paychiatrist that i havr always gotten good grades but i just lack the ability to read effectively and study effectively because I end up having to read things over and over and get fed up. I earned a 3.5 in high school, but i never studied i just did all my homework. the psychiatrist told us to take this specific test online. When I took this test the results said I had a form of add. I can't remember the exact name because it was so long ago but basically it was a form of add for people that do well in school. I never received a script because we never followed through with getting it officially diagnosed.
Now in my 5th semester of college I am hoping for a 2.8 gpa. This will be the lowest gpa I will ever have received. I feel like I have "symptoms" that everyone claiming to have add has. The inability to read something once and get it, procrastination, and lack of motivation when It comes to something that bores me. As I said before I have taken it three times this semester. I can actually read something and get it the first time I read it when I'm on adderall, I can finish papers without getting on Facebook or fantasy football. I can quickly complete tasks without any disturbance. Not to mention it really helps me with focusing in sports. That is what scares me. It helps me so much that I feel as though I would quickly become addicted to it. I don't know if this would be an addiction or a solution for my add?

Something interesting that I noted was when my girlfriend and I took adderall at the same time, she "over focused" as I put it. She couldn't sit in a room with a ticking clock because it would drive her nuts while on adderall. Also she couldn't sit at the same table as me because the wobbling of the table from me writing was distracting her. I did not notice any of these things that were going on, I simply was focused on my schoolwork. I read in the posts that it made someone feel "normal" when they took it. That is exactly how I described it to my girlfriend. It makes me feel like I can function to my full potential. It makes me feel excited as to what I can do with my future if I get prescribed to fix my add. But also it scares me that it is such a slippery slope. I have never been one to fall to addiction and I am very wary of addictions to anything. But I feel like this could really mess my life up if I am misdiagnosed.
When speaking to my mom recently about going to the doctor to get a script she seemed to be all for it. She is currently prescribed to Ritalin right now. This add runs in my family. I feel like that is a tale tell sign for me to get a script but depression also runs in my family. I honestly felt depressed after taking adderall for the second time. I felt it 2 days after I took it. That also scares me especially sense I was on depression medication in middle school.

What I am asking is, does it seem like to you guys that I need adderall or am I just another college student that just can't get motivated to do my schoolwork?
I appreciate any and all feedback in this matter.

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Submitted by Serendip Visitor (guest) on Fri, 10/12/2012 - 1:08am.

I have a question... Why is this a bad thing? If more people are getting higher scores on tests this is a GREAT thing. I know plenty of kids that don't take Adderall that do way better academically than kids that do take it. It is all in will power. If you don't want to harm your body with drugs (like me) good more power to you. It is not like Adderall makes people magically learn material anyway. If some kids are aware of the risks and it helps them focus on homework then how is this bad? Most research shows this drug is harmless, but there is always opposition that say it is addictive (like marijuana). These people are the kids and parents of kids who fear competition. The same kids who are always making excuses for how everything is somebody else's fault. Take some responsibility (or Adderall) and hit the books. Andrew Carnagie, one of the most successful and caring barons said "And while the law of competition may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department." Maybe when they make a drug that directly teaches you some then you cry foul. Also anyone that has ADHD and says it makes them normal are lying to themselves. Some of my friends have bad ADHD and got prescribed to Adderall turning them in to zombies. Maybe an extremely small dose would make them "normal", but these days doctors are handing them out like candy. They could think that it makes them normal due to tolerance build up, constant use, or finally achieving average grades.

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Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Sat, 02/27/2010 - 10:22am.

Hi David, I ran across your posting and knew I had to respond. I have been trying to watch the episode of MTV's True Life for about a year, ever since my adderall addiction began. Is there any way you could send me the link or direct me to this? I've heard so much about it, especially when I went to rehab last summer, 3,000 miles away. Unfortunately, the dangers of abusing this drug are not broadcasted enough, so I thank you for counseling those who are struggling with this disease. My desire is to counsel as well, I have great empathy for those with depression and addiction.
I'm a 21 year old college student and my life has completely been torn to pieces because of my powerlessness. It started with a desire to look better in a bikini and to get good grades (even though my grades were better before adderall). I was able to get a prescription with no trouble at all, simply pretended to have ADHD. I'm surprised my Psychiatrist lacks the ability to notice that I'm full of bull****, have noticeable paranoia, and am skinnier with each appointment. Obviously I'm the epitome of an addict; I have mastered manipulation.

Adderall addictions are gradually becoming an epidemic to me. When I joined a sorority at my university 2 years ago, I observed girls snorting and taking it like candy. Most of them were prescribed. Abusing the substance to party harder or cram for finals is normal and frequent, not to mention looking thin. I don't enjoy life anymore, I am basically friendless and empty due to this drug. This breaks my heart, not to mention my familys and all the people who have tried to intervene. I want my life back so badly. I hope MTV does another True Life or something similar regarding substance abuse with adderall again. Thanks for your time.

PS. To readers who actually have ADHD and benefit from Adderall, I hope you don't find my comments to be offensive. It must be frustrating to have strict regulations getting the medication, etc. I apologize that abusers, like me, make your lives difficult. If I could, I would rewind back to before I picked up my first prescription, the day I became hooked.

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ecofarm said:

It doesn't look beneficial.

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ThePlayDrive said:

tl;dr

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ecofarm said:

I don't see a change.

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Wake said:

Would you please share your thoughts on the topic?

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ttwtt78640 said:

Aside from academic issues it seems that ADHD/ADD, like many treatable mental conditions are over diagnosed simply to secure the treatment fees and associted profit. This is not limitted to only medical.mental health professionals but pubic schools as well - the public school gets extra federal fundung for each such "special needs" student from the federal gov't.

With recent talk of adding those with mental/behavioral "problems" to the NICS (national "criminal" database) used for gun rights determination, extreme caution should be exercised in getting such a diagnosis. While it may help those in their early years it may have lasting repercussions later in life as well.

I am of mixed feelings when it comes to mental/behavioral issues; while many may be correctly diagnosed and successfully treated, it seems that many (more?) are simply given "happy pills" to reduce the burden of many natural tendencies of some to be more unruley than "normal". After all, if it an illness then no personal blame/responsibility can be assumed for adding to or not properly dealing with that condidtion/deficiency.

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Wake said:

I really appreciate your input.

Being a bit biased on the issue, I'm not really sure exactly how overdiagnosed our children are. It's probably true that there are those hyper-yet-normal children who've been diagnosed with something they don't have. There is criteria, though, from impulsivity and innatentiveness, to hyper-activity and the ability to hyper-focus. Also people with ADD/ADHD are typically of-above-average intelligence and are very creative, but they can't really focus or remember, and get bored very quickly of things they hate, like dieting, chores, studies 9unless interesting), etc. When I think of ADD, it's less of an Attention Deficit Disorder and more of an Attention Displacement Disorder.

WOAH. Is the NICS actually considering blocking people with ADD/ADHD from owning/using firearms? If so, that's lame and I'm 100% against it.

One thing that can be discerned when it comes to normal and ADD/ADHD people taking Adderal is that...

...if a normal person takes it, they already have normal levels of dopamine and other chemicals in their system. I've ready that if they take Adderall, they'll start feeling a LOT more hyper and anxious. However, if a person with ADD/ADHD takes it, they're already dealing with the constant unwanted thoughts and unwanted behavior, and for some reason the drug with actually calm the person, allowing those unwanted thought to stop blocking the mind. The "filter" that allows normal people to block out normals thoughts and focus on one thign is "broken," making it so the sufferer is often over-stimulated, stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, and innatentive... the person also has a tendency to be impatient and rambles a lot.

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Fisher said:

I knew people in college who would crush and snort the drug. To each their own I guess.

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Wake said:

That is VERY dangerous. The pharmacy instructions that come with the pills state you should never do that. Iirc, the sinus cavities are delicate, so if you crush up the valeric acid in Adderall XR pills (I think?), the acid could eat their way through the cavities and cause immense damage and even death. That's why with Adderall XR you should eith swallow the pill or open the capsules and release the little spheres of medicine into somethinglike applesauce. NEVER crush 'em up and snort.

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Helix said:

i'm not extraordinarily concerned with what other people put in their bodies. when i was in college, it was high doses of caffeine via jolt and Ale 81. now it's adderall.

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Helix said:

i've not read anything convincing that points to AHDH being total BS. it's overdiagnosed, though, and i worry about putting any mind-altering chemicals in the brains of little kids, because the brain is wiring itself at that point. college kids are at least technically adults, and can make their own decisions.

is it "cheating?" who knows. i never used it, but i was pretty good at using fear as a motivator to make me stick to my studies. if i had lost my academic scholarship, i might have had to go to another school, because my parents would have sold themselves into the poorhouse trying to help me out otherwise. plus, i guess i am just kind of naturally good at taking tests. is my genetic makeup "cheating?" in a broader sense, maybe.

i have trouble throwing stones, also. i have OCD, and there's a significant social anxiety aspect which has sometimes prevented me from thriving in social situations. i'm also a musician, and the chances of me getting onstage without the help of alcohol back in the day are pretty slim. in some sense, that could be classified as a performance enhancing drug for recluses like me.

as for OTC adderall, there would have to be significant studies done before i'd sign off on it. if i had a kid, i'd advise him or her to be very careful with it. and as with any chemical, dosage is key.

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Wake said:

While I can agree with the fact that students are looking for the next best tool to survive the pressures of college...

...Adderall is nowehere near a few ups of caffienated coffee and such. If ADHD/ADD could be fixed on coffee alone, they'd be prescribed caffiene. Adderall is dangerous for normal people who don't need it.



It's overdiagnosed, but it's not BS in the slightest. It's a genetic and neurological disorder that can be inherited via adults with it. My views is that it's cheating if normal peopel take it, but "leveling the playing field" when people with the damaged mind (ADD/ADHD) take it to be normal and receive a better quality lifestyle. Imagine being highly intelligent, but not being able to focus and remember, thus not being able to really retain and use information. That, and Adderall ALSO treats the social and other behavioral issues of the disorder, like anxiety and innatentiveness. There are also side-effects, like loss of creativity, cold fingers, nausea, and major lack of appetite (all of which I'm feeling right now).

I don't have OCD, and I don't understand it really at all... Sounds like it's a different sort of struggle.

Dosage is definitely key, so it's typical medical practice to start patients off on lower doses and slowly increase it, considering the patient's blood pressure, reactions, side effects, improved quality of life, etc. It's sensitive data, but my doctor yesterday put me on a low-sodium diet plan to counteract that BP-increasing effects of the medication. My BP was 160/90, so if I keep eating bad foods and not doing much to lower my BP, I could face stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular problems. Every week I need to check my BP twice and jot it down on a chart my doctor gave me. I've got a month, and if I can't get it at or below 120/60(?), I'll have to stop taking it and take beta-blockers to bet my BP under control. Dosage and observace is key.

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ecofarm said:

It doesn't look beneficial.

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Wake said:

I'm a 24-year-old student with ADHD. I was recently prescribed a prescription for Adderall (60 tablets po q day). One minute prior to writing this thread, I took my first pill.

There are a few issues about this drug that I'd like to talk with you about. I want to know what you think of this medication, if it should be legalized for everyone, if "normal" people should abuse the drug for academic gain, etc. There are many things about my disorder and medication that I know, but I'd like to garner some good feedback on these issues regardless. If you would also read this article from Serendipity, I think it will give a more comprehensive perspective on what messages I'm meaning to share with you:

Adderall: College Students' Best Friend-- Or Worst Enemy?? | Serendip Studio



In accordance with DP's Fair Use rules I can't share more of the article.

Wikipedia also shares an article on Adderall that I think is important to this discussion:

Adderall - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Basically Kristin Jenkins (the author) is arguing against those normal students who use this drug for academic gain. Genius, like power, is utterly seductive. She continues to argue her point of view while providing cited sources to back up her argument.

To paraphrase some of the article, ADHD is a neurological and heritable disorder that can be passed on from parent to child. Scientists don't 100% know everything about the disorder, but they do know a lot about it. They know that ADHD affects the frontal cortex, and that that area of the brain deals with reasoning, planning, focusing, and problem solving. Dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter dealing with that part of the brain, is deficient. Without "normal" amounts of this chemical, those executive functions suffer. This is why Adderall is prescribed; it helps to balance out these problems.

There are a few arguments in a nutshell I'd like to go over with you on this drug, it's control, the disorder itself, and basic drug policy.

1) Do you think ADHD/ADD exists?

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There are some out there that think my disorder is made-up, and that we simply need to "shape up" and try harder. To me that's both ignorant and offensive to those who actually suffer with the disorder. How would you feel if I told you your loved one suffering with bipolar disorder or depression was simply not trying hard enough and he/she simply had a made-up problem? You probably wouldn't like that. In truth ADHD/ADD is heritable. If two adults have ADHD/ADD, the chances of their children having the disorder increase. We're not faking; we exist.

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2) Do you think it's cheating if "normal" people using this Schedule II drugs are cheating? Personally I think they are, because it's a prescription drug not intended for people with already-normal levels of dopamine and other chemicals in their brains. I am particularly curious what libertarians think on this issue, and if it's simple a matter of "personal choice." Also, if normal students taking Adderall is cheating, what else is cheating? Does this include caffiene, supplements, and other chemical means of academic enhancement?

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3) As mentioned earlier in #2, do you think Adderall should be legalized for all to use? If you think either yes or no, why? Do you think policy should change on this?

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This poll will be a little different: it's Multiple Choice. Please click on the options of the poll you agree with.

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Medusa said:

you dont have to kid :shock:

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