Dangerous Dependency: College Students and Prescription Drugs

Between five-page papers, exhausting lecture halls, endless pages of math problems and weekend road trips, the life of a college student can be overwhelming. There are lots of ways to reduce stress: exercise, yoga, meditation, writing, to name just a few. But, some college students turn to prescription drugs instead.

Need to get that paper done in an hour? Pop an Adderall. Want to unwind after a nerve-racking presentation? Try a Xanax. Have a few aches and pains? Vicodin will do the trick.

Marie*, a junior Fine Arts major, takes Adderall, a popular prescription drug, for her ADHD symptoms. Adderall is a stimulant that affects chemicals in the brain and controls hyperactivity.

"I take it because I can't concentrate without it," she said.

However, many college students take drugs that aren't prescribed to them as a way to easily ace exams, chill out at a big frat party or even clean their dorm rooms.

Over the years, students have started to use drugs in ways doctors never could have imagined. Adderall has been described as the drug for overachievers, and the side effects – including increased energy, ability to focus and inability to sleep – sound like a miracle pill for the busy, hectic, fast-paced life of a college student.

"Whenever I have a paper due, I won't stress about it because I know I can take Adderall and get it done fast," said a freshman who wishes to remain anonymous. "It also helps when I pull all-nighters to study for exams."

Adderall also suppresses the user's appetite and many students, especially young women, enjoy that extra side effect.

"I like it because it's like taking Stackers or other diet pills, but you can also concentrate," she said. Not only will you get an A on your exam, but – hey! – you could even drop a dress size.

But, Adderall is not the only drug abused on campuses. Xanax, Valuum and Vicodin – which treat anxiety, depression and insomnia, among other ailments – are also college favorites. And with rising cases of generalized anxiety disorder on college campuses, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, many students are finding themselves with easy access to these pills. Just ask the kid sitting behind you in Psych, your hall mate or even that gorgeous girl in your sorority – one of them probably has a prescription to your drug of choice, or knows someone who does.

"People know I have a prescription, and I get phone calls all the time from people asking for it," Marie said. "I don't need them all, so usually I'll just give them away."

Marie isn't the only legally prescribed drug user who chooses to sell or give away her pills. A study conducted earlier this year by a Massachusetts psychopharmacologist reported that 11 percent of students surveyed who had prescriptions to Adderall XR sold their pills. Another 22 percent reported misusing their prescription and didn't take the pills when they were supposed to.

The Dangers

Although Marie is prescribed to the drug, she can still see the many dangers of drug misuse. She feels not only physically, but also psychologically, dependent on the drug

The drug becomes a crutch – an easy way to avoid a bigger issue. Didn't attend enough lecture halls? Take an Adderall and you can read the chapter in two hours. Want to calm your nerves before you get your drink on at the bars? Take a Valuum to get an extra buzz. The problem is that once the drugs wear off, the real issues are still there.

"I feel like I can't do my work without Adderall now," Marie said. "I think people who take drugs recreationally take the pills to escape their problems. They're just looking for a quick fix for whatever is wrong at the time."

Many students don't see the harm in popping a pill that is prescribed to someone else. People mistakenly believe that it's okay to take the drugs because they have been prescribed by a doctor, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2006. But when they are not prescribed to you in particular, you never know what kind of reaction your body might have when you introduce a new medication.

Not only are their health risks involved, but addiction is another very serious side effect.

"I've seen a lot of people, good friends actually, become addicted to drugs that they weren't prescribed to," Marie said. "I've seen it ruin their lives."

But, prescription drugs don't carry the negative stigma like street drugs such as cocaine and heroin. You don't cringe to hear that a friend is taking excessive amounts of Adderall or Vicodin, the way you would if they were hooked on cocaine.

"I take it to do better in school," said the same anonymous freshman. "It's not like I'm buying it off the street."

But, getting caught with Adderall is just like getting caught with marijuana, since police can charge you with drug possession. And if you're caught selling your stash? Same deal: You can be charged with drug trafficking.

Demi Rushe, a junior Art Education major, has never tried any prescription drugs because of the potential consequences.

"I've heard of a bunch of people who do that stuff," she said. "I don't get it. I feel like if my doctor isn't the one who gave it to me, I don't want to take it."

Despite the abuse of prescription drugs, the disorders mentioned in this article are real and do require treatment. If you feel that you suffer from ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Depression – make an appointment with your doctor.

* Name has been changed.

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