A stressful exam period may lend itself to prescription pill abuse for some students, but Campus Police are taking a firm stance against amphetamine abuse.
Capt. Jon Barnwell said Campus Police do not frequently make arrests over prescription pills, but it’s not because the consequences aren’t severe.
“We don’t have to deal with it very often, but when we do it’s very strict. We get tips from students, usually, about other students that are holding prescription drugs,” Barnwell said.
According to Barnwell, students caught with less than 100 pills, can be charged with a Class-I misdemeanor punishable by up to 45 days in jail. Students caught with more than one hundred pills will be charged with a Class-I felony and can result in four to five months in prison.
“People need to understand that prescription drugs are prescribed to treat something specific; taking them without a prescription or a need can lead to health and legal issues. We take a zero tolerance stance on this issue,” Barnwell said.
According to a report by The National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report on nonmedical use of Adderall among full-time college students aged 18 to 22, students were twice as likely to use Adderall nonmedically in the past year as those who had not been in college at all or were only part-time students.
According to the report, Adderall is the “brand name for an amphetamine formulation that is prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.”
Adderall is listed as a Schedule II drug because of its high potential for abuse and dependence, according to the Controlled Substance Act. The report defines nonmedical use as “consumption without a prescription belonging to the respondent or use that occurred simply for the experience or feeling the drug caused.”
Some students say they’ve seen prescription-drug use on campus, but only for academic purposes.
“I don’t ever see people use it to go out and party or anything like that; it’s become a crutch for studying,” said Josh Alger, a junior in computer science with ADHD.
According to Alger, use of prescription drugs like Adderall makes it harder for using-students to study without it.
“People who take it and don’t need it become dependent on it. Prolonged abuse of the drug makes it harder to study without it,” Alger said.
There are many health risks associated with taking prescription drugs like Adderall, even for people diagnosed with ADHD.
Sudden deaths, stroke, and myocardial infarction have been reported in adults taking stimulant drugs at usual doses for ADHD, according to a 2007 FDA report. The report states the use of Adderall may cause many serious heart problems in frequent users.
Alger said the drugs easy availability is one reason for Adderall’s prevalence on campus.
“The reason people abuse it so much is because it’s easy to get. It’s so common in college that people don’t even realize it’s a form of drug abuse,” Alger said.
Christopher Robinson, a junior in psychology, said Adderall abuse is a result of a competitive academic environment.
“I’ve talked to people who have said it improves their work habits. College is a competitive environment; you have to do what it takes to get ahead,” Robinson said.
According to Robinson, most students do not see taking the drug as a risky endeavor. Many students who are not prescribed to adderall take it on a regular basis in order to write papers or study for exams.
“I don’t think people are aware of the risks. You see so many people taking it without anything bad happening that it’s almost like, why not?” Robinson said.
