To combat the increased use of drugs to enhance performance, Wesleyan University is changing its honor code. According to a Middletown Press article, the university has made a change to its policy so that students know the use of prescription drugs such as Ritalin and other stimulants violate the university’s honor code.

Ritalin abuse first hit the radar several years ago and since that time, a reliance on prescription medication to act as stimulants to enhance performance has risen exponentially. For many students, stimulants have become a necessity.

A study released by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia found that as many as 20 percent of college students have relied on Ritalin or Adderall to study, take exams, write papers, etc. The number of teens who admit to abusing such drugs has tripled from 1992 to 2033. Abuse among the general population has only doubled.

Wesleyan’s honor code focuses on academic matters and takes into account drug abuse and alcohol use. Student leaders have been approached by other students who have found their stimulant use has turned into a habit they cannot break. In one scenario, a class was given a 24-hour take-home exam and half the class took “study drugs” to focus on the exam.

The change in policy is to protect the integrity of the school as well as to protect the students. The school overall will also have to change the culture so that “study drugs” are looked down upon by peers.
 

Study Drugs Are a Growing Problem is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

A 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health survey said that students in the 18 to 22 year range, the typical college age, had a risk of abusing Adderall two times higher than their peers who were not attending college. The survey, with results published in the journal Addiction, also said that one-fourth of students enrolled in the 119 U. S. universities studied had used Adderall to help them study.

Adderall, the brand name for dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, was developed in the 1990s for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is a Schedule II controlled substance. A prescription is required to acquire it, and it has a high potential for addiction and abuse. Unauthorized possession of Adderall means a student could be penalized with jail time under the Controlled Substances Act.

Adderall is especially dangerous because it can be acquired at a relatively low cost per pill, and for many students, can aid in concentration ability. However, dangerous side effects include having a heart attack or stroke, developing high blood pressure, seizures, aggressive actions or psychosis. For some students who already have heart problems, Adderall is linked to immediate death.

As the students continue to use Adderall, tolerance develops, and they must increase their dosage to get the desired effects. Adderall abuse may also open the door to students experimenting with substances like methamphetamine and ecstasy.

Sometimes called a “cognitive steroid,” withdrawal from Adderall can include severe fatigue, depression and abnormal levels of hunger. Still, the perceived benefits of Adderall – like being able to concentrate for long periods of time during studying or exams, and staying up for long periods – make the drug a popular trend among many college campuses.

Experts fear that students may consider using a controlled substance drug to help with studying as an acceptable action, if it is in the name of boosting their academic performance. Some university officials also fear that students will not be able to function once they leave college, because taking a pill won’t reduce the life stressors brought on by the workplace and other conditions.

Controlling Adderall can be tricky, because students with ADHD who need the medication should not be refused – yet at the same time, prescriptions should not be given to students who will abuse the drug for purposes such as a study aid or even for weight loss. Not only can many Adderall users manage for long periods without sleeping, some also report a greatly reduced appetite – making it even more appealing among college-aged girls who want to lose weight.

As abuse of the stimulant drug Adderall becomes more widely-known among university officials and health experts, it may encourage more research into teaching college students healthy ways to focus and manage stress, rather than resorting to dangerous prescription drug abuse.
 

Adderall Becoming Abused Drug on College Campuses, With Dangerous Side Effects is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Methylin ER is often available as an instant-release medication and serves as a potent central nervous system stimulant. Methylin ER is a derivative of amphetamine and exerts its effect by enhancing dopaminergic transmission in the brain. Whether in its generic or brand names versions, Methylin ER is known by its many street names, such as Rids, Pineapple, Uppers, Vitamin R. Jif and Rball.

Abuses of Methylin ER

Methylin ER presents a high potential for abuse and most users obtain the drug through legitimate prescriptions. Abuse is often the result of trying to achieve a certain high once tolerance sets in, or an accidental addiction begins. Abusers often use the drug to stay awake, a common habit among college students. For those seeking to achieve a euphoric effect, the drug is crushed and then ingested through intranasal and intravenous means or it is smoked.

With a close pharmaceutical equivalent to cocaine, Methylin ER has an impact on the central nervous system. As a result, many abusers rely on the drug to increase alertness, attention and energy, which can lead to abuse and even risk of death. These benefits are usually offset by increases in blood pressure, heart pressure and breathing.

Effects of Methylin ER

Methylin ER, even when it is prescribed by a physician and taken according to directions, can cause dangerous effects. As it is a stimulant, Methylin ER can cause difficulty sleeping, a loss of appetite, irritability, nervousness, stomach aches, headaches, dry mouth, blurred vision, nausea, drowsiness and dizziness.

If a person is addicted to Methylin ER, a number of significant physical reactions can occur. These reactions can include an irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures, potential for cardiovascular failure or seizures, demonstrated hostilities, feelings of paranoia, verbal tics, uncontrolled movements and difficulty urinating.

Withdrawal of Methylin ER

Methylin ER has been known to be taken for long periods of time, generating the likelihood of a physical or psychological dependence. A dysphoric mood can develop within a few hours or even several days after the abrupt cessation of the drug. Such a mood can even set in after a reduction in the dose of medication.

Withdrawal symptoms associated with Methylin ER can include, but are not limited to:
· Fatigue
· Vivid, unpleasant dreams
· Insomnia or Hypersomnia
· Increased appetite
· Psychomotor retardation
· Depression
· Changes in heart rhythm

Treatment of Methylin ER Addiction

Severe side effects and withdrawal symptoms can be common with an addiction to Methylin ER. Such an addiction may even put a person’s life at risk. Considering the danger of the associated withdrawal symptoms, the individual must immediately seek professional help. The treatment of Methylin ER addiction can vary depending upon the patient and the level of addiction.

A patient must be evaluated by a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist to determine the proper method for treatment. Detoxification is often recommended by doctor and 24/7 treatment is sought. A quality center will offer Methylin ER addicts a comfortable detox method to help rid the body completely of the drug while also managing withdrawal symptoms.

Methylin ER Abuse and Addiction is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Adderall is a psychostimulant that is reported to increase alertness, concentration and overall cognitive performance while also decreasing fatigue. This medication is often prescribed for patients who are suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Due to the benefits that Adderall can provide, it is turning up more and more on college campuses as students find that the drug helps to improve overall performance. In fact, a recent NSDUH Report, Nonmedical Use of Adderall Among Full-Time College Students, shared the findings from a study that indicate that full-time college students aged 18 to 22 were twice as likely as their counterparts who were not full-time college students, to have used Adderall nonmedically in the past year.

In addition, this same group of college students who were nonmedical Adderall users were nearly three times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year, eight times as likely to have used cocaine or prescription tranquilizers for nonmedical reasons and five times as likely to have been nonmedical users of prescription pain relievers.

Alcohol was also a problem for those college students who used Adderall for nonmedical reasons. Nearly 90 percent of these full-time college students were also binge drinkers who had engaged in the activity in the past month. More than half of these students were also considered to be heavy alcohol users.

One of the reasons why Adderall is of such important focus for policymakers is the fact that it is among the group of legally approved drugs that is classified as having the highest potential for dependence or abuse. As a result, this drug also presents the greatest risk for those who are not using it according to its original intent.

Those full-time college students who are using Adderall for nonmedical reasons tend to be white. Of this group of users, 8.6 percent were white, 1.0 percent were black, 2.1 were Asian, 2.2 percent were Hispanic and 2.7 were persons of two or more races.

Family income also appeared to have an impact on those students who elected to use Adderall for reasons outside of medical purposes. Use appeared to be the highest among full-time students from families with annual incomes of less than $20,000 with 8.9 percent of this group falling into this category. Another 6.0 percent were from families with annual incomes of $75,000 or more.

Aside from the potential for dependence on Adderall when it is used outside of medical reasons, it can also increase a person’s risk for heart attack or stroke. Those students who take Adderall nonmedically may also need to take central nervous systems depressants to counteract the stimulant effects of Adderall, presenting additional risks.

Those educators, policymakers and parents who are concerned about the nonmedical use of Adderall need to take further action to ensure that these students understand the risk they are posing to themselves and to others by engaging in this activity. What may seem the answer to get them through college could end up taking their life.

Students Taking Adderall for Non-Medical Reasons is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment