While prescriptions for Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin are often issued to those who have trouble focusing in the classroom, those pills may benefit more than the person whose name is on the bottle.
After starting her art portfolio the night before it was due, Maci* found herself able to complete nine drawings in a matter of hours thanks to the Adderall she took from a dealer. Maci said she can name at least 10 to 20 people who sell their prescriptions to other students.
“I think they use as many as they really need and sell the rest for profit,” Maci said. “I mean, why not? There’s such a high demand … might as well make some cash off of it.”
“Study drugs” aren’t the only popular pills among students — anxiety medications such as Xanax and Klonopin are heavily sold. Maci said she doesn’t think these pills are absolutely necessary, but they make school’s stressors easier to handle at times.
Maci said she doesn’t disregard the potential for developing addictions when abusing prescription drugs.
“I had two friends that were both addicted to Adderall at one point, and it was pretty terrifying,” Maci said. “I knew some other people out of this one friend group that were all addicted to Xanax, which also wasn’t a pretty sight.”
Any experience Maci had with Adderall or Vyvanse has never been pleasant, she said, and she only took the drug in desperate times.
While it did help her focus, the next day was always miserable. At one point, she said she was unable to go to sleep for about a week.
She said she had a better experience taking anxiety medications. Though Maci shattered her new iPhone once while on Xanax, she said she appreciated the temporary escape.
When buying prescription pills, Maci said she sets prices she won’t go over.
“It depends on the milligrams,” she said. “Adderall also depends on if it’s instant release or extended release. Vyvanse, 60 mg, is $5 to $6 in my book. I refuse to buy it if it’s more expensive than that. Xanax bars are 2 mg and come for $5, standard. Klonopins usually come in 0.5 mg and are $2 to $3.”
Maci said she doesn’t believe the prescription drug trade on campus is as big of a deal as the spread of harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
Samantha* said she knows people who stockpile their study drugs for the semester ahead. She said she thinks those who sell their drugs either truly need the money or are looking to help stressed out friends.
Samantha said she and her friends stay safe by avoiding alcohol before taking any over-the-counter substance.
Anxiety medications like Xanax are a bit more difficult for her to come by, but she said she prefers them to study drugs.
“No psychiatrist is going to write me a Xanax prescription because I’ve admitted to smoking weed, because it’s too much of a liability,” Samantha said. “I take another medication for anxiety, so it’s not really that I need Xanax, but I like the feeling it gives me.”
The first time she took Xanax, Samantha said she ended up missing an important family function and sleeping for 18 hours. When she took Vyvanse, it made her feel like she was unable to function after it wore off. While she was able to accomplish her necessary tasks, she said the five hours of aching bones and sweating were miserable.
Kathryn Saichuk, assistant director of Wellness and Health Promotion at the Student Health Center said there is a lengthy screening process before someone can be prescribed an attention or anxiety drug.
“In order for us to do that, a student has to provide us with a medical affidavit, proving that they have been tested for ADD or ADHD and have an official diagnosis,” Saichuk said. “After that, they meet with our psychiatrist and are either approved or denied through them.”
Saichuk said those who do not have a medical need for the drugs have a different reaction to it than those who receive prescriptions. Non-prescribed users’ side effects may be more severe than prescribed users’.
The SHC physicians and pharmacists speak with students about potential side effects or issues before prescribing drugs, but Saichuk said it is also the responsibility of the student to ask questions regarding risks and harm with their prescriptions.
“If a student is concerned that they have ADD or ADHD, one of the preliminary things they can do is come in and meet with one of us,” Saichuck said. “We can see what’s going on and maybe help them out.”
Samantha said LSU should be more realistic with its approach to drugs.
“[LSU] is the perfect place for students to learn about drug interactions and the risks associated with these drugs,” Samantha said. “But instead, we just get told that they have a zero tolerance policy, and there’s nothing else said. It’s sad, and it’s going to cost students’ lives.”
*Editor’s Note: Maci and Samantha’s names were withheld to preserve anonymity.

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Javier Fernández