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Opinion

'Academic steroids' not worth risk

Hasan Rizvi
Opinion columnist

Finals are quickly approaching, which means a lot of us will be cramming as much information into our cerebrums as humanly possible. Consumption of Red Bull and coffee will undoubtedly complement the marathon study sessions to which many students will subject themselves. 

However, Red Bull and coffee will not be the only stimulants students will be taking to help them study. 

On college campuses around the country, students are consuming the "academic steroid" known as Adderall. 

Adderall, or dextroamphetamine, a medicine that was originally introduced to the public in the 1960s as a diet pill, helps people focus intensely for long periods of time. 

This increased focus is fueled by an increased flow of dopamine and norepinephrine to the brain. Users claim its effects are much smoother compared to the likes of other commonly used stimulants, such as caffeine. 

More and more, students are using the prescription amphetamine without a prescription. People without a doctor's permission to use Adderall can usually obtain it easily through a friend who does have a prescription for the drug. 

According to some surveys, as many as one in five college students uses amphetamines as a study aid. According to the New York Times, use of Adderall and similar drugs in young adults doubled from 2000-04. 

Some of the milder side effects of the drug may include sleeplessness, dehydration and a significant loss of appetite. 

Many students who frequently turn to Adderall to help them study for projects and tests and to deal with the pressures of college in general fail to realize the potential risks that come with its use. More deleterious repercussions from using Adderall can encompass psychotic episodes, violent outbursts and heart attacks. In fact, the Canadian government banned the extended release version of Adderall after a number of deaths were traced to its use. People can develop a physical and mental dependency on the drug if they take it regularly.

Besides health reasons there are also legal reasons to abstain from Adderall. The Drug Enforcement Agency has set Adderall without a prescription as a Schedule II drug. If one is caught with Adderall, the legal ramifications may prove to be very costly. If you do take Adderall without a prescription so you don't have to work as hard as you normally would for that A, chances are you won't suffer from the most serious risks that come with Adderall use. But, still you have to ask yourself, is that a risk you are willing to take?

Rizvi, an opinion columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at hasanalirizvi@yahoo.co.uk.