As the semester kicks into high gear, fewer students might seek an academic edge in the form of prescription stimulants than in the past.
While a recent study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration found that emergency room visits because of stimulant abuse were on the rise, the use of “study drugs” like Adderall has actually declined at the University.
The overall use of stimulants at the University has decreased from 16.6 percent in 2011 to 12.2 percent in 2013, according to the American College Association National College Health Assessment II.
But stimulant-related emergency visits increased nationally 300 percent among young adults in 2011, according to SAMHSA.
Emergency room visits involving nonmedical use of stimulants by people from ages 18 to 34 increased from about 5,600 in 2005 to about 23,000 in 2011, according to the study.
There were 1.24 million emergency department visits for nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals in 2011.
Although overall stimulant use at the University has declined in recent years, the trend is still popular on campus and can be dangerous.
Stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta are called “study drugs” by students looking to feel more alert and focused, according to Student Health Center Health Promotions Coordinator Ian Wang.
Using stimulants for nonmedical use can cause lasting harm and lead to addiction, Wang said.
Sierra Fowler, health promotions coordinator for the Student Health Center, said many students are under the impression that since they are using prescription medicine, it’s safe. But if the drug isn’t under the student’s prescription, consuming it comes with many risks, she said.
The University’s Student Health Center has guidelines in place when it comes to student receiving initial prescription and refills of stimulants to prevent abuse and misuse.
At the University, students have to go through an assessment by a mental health professional and must see the professional on a regular basis to be reevaluated. Even if a student meets all the requirements and is approved, they only receive a 30 day prescription with no refills and have to return each month to get a new prescription, Wang said.
He said another dangerous trend is students mixing these prescription stimulants with alcohol. This can cause students’ blood pressure and heart rate to rise and fall. It can also lead to constricting blood vessels, increasing blood sugar, heart attacks and strokes.