Is it Superman or a Student Behind the Prescription Bottle?

As children, most of us fantasized about what it would be like to have super powers. Some people would have chosen to fly, and others, including myself, were attracted to the notion of invisibility. But the truth of the matter is that super-humans do not exist, although today’s college students seem to think otherwise. Recently, there has been an applied stress on students to maximize the potential of their studies. These students go to super-human lengths in order to become sought out human commodities in today’s competitive job markets. Over the last few years, young adults have been subject to higher standards for collegiate workloads, standardized exams, and extracurricular involvements in order to fulfill the qualifications for sought after professions that range anywhere from medicine to finance. In order to cope with this stress, many college students have turned to “performance-enhancing” medications like Ritalin and Adderall, typically prescribed for individuals diagnosed with ADHD or Alzheimer’s disease, in order to reach maximum potential in their studies. Because drugs like these are known to heighten focus and concentration among users, they have become highly sought out among young adults who no longer find caffeine a viable stimulant to cope with their collegiate studies. The rising culture of pharmaceutical drug abuse among college students is a murky territory, in which advanced research has not sufficiently studied possible future consequences, although many neurological implications have been documented after years of abuse. In order to reverse this trend, I believe it is necessary that college students become better educated on the nature of these drugs and their detriments. University programming, in many respects, can be used as a means to stigmatize Adderall and Ritalin abuse. After all, the super-human capabilities we all dreamed of didn’t come with a warning label of psychological side effects.

For people living with Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder, drugs like Adderall are very effective because they regulate concentration. However, students without these disorders are abusing such drugs to conform to society’s standards. Adderall is a stimulant that targets neurotransmitters in the brain. It increases the levels of neropinephrine and dopamine in nerve synapses while regulating their reuptake in order to induce the brain into a state of focus (Ramsay 33). ADHD is very common among children, but research conducted by Dr. Russell Ramsay from the University of Pennsylvania shows a different trend among adults. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that persistence of the disorder into adulthood is very low in frequency, usually being 0.2% by the age of 30. National surveys conducted throughout college campuses over the past few years have consistently shown that ADHD among the undergraduate population ranges around 4% (Ramsay 21). Not all ADHD patients are prescribed stimulant drugs for their treatment, yet the trend of methylphenidate and amphetamine usage (active compounds within brand name stimulants) among college students is alarmingly high. Data collected by Rob Goodman, a Ph.D. student at Columbia University, demonstrate just how high the improper abuse of these drugs is. According to Goodman, in 2008, 5.3% of 2,087 college students surveyed on the use of mental performance enhancement drugs reported that they used Concentra and Ritalin for nonmedical needs (150). Illicit users of these medications either buy them from “dealers,” much like other illegal drugs, or they exaggerate symptoms in order to obtain a false ADHD diagnosis that allows them to get these prescriptions over the counter. For instance, in a study conducted at West Coast University in 20111, Maryam, one of the female subjects, stated that she knew of Adderall being sold on campus for $4 per 10 mg (Aikins 575). The “black market” nature of this drug is parallel to many illegal substances, which demonstrates how its consumption should not be taken lightly.

The abuse of these prescription medications is not attributed to recreational activity as many drugs are. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Center, Ritalin is one of the most commonly abused drugs for students (Goodman 153). The influx of nonmedical Adderall and Ritalin usage on college campuses is correlated with the increasing stressful nature of keeping up with a collegiate lifestyle. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services documented in 2009 that Adderall was consumed at twice the rate for full-time college students in contrast to part-time students (Goodman 155). It is common to say that more schoolwork causes more stress, yet this correlation has generally gone unnoticed in the public sphere. The economic downturn has made the job market more competitive. In turn, college students are now competing for fewer positions. Because of this reality, students are forced to boost up their resumes and diversify their academic horizons in order to stand out to possible future employers. This competition is often overwhelming, so it is not surprising that some students have turned to “performance-enhancement” drugs to give them that extra boost. A qualitative study among illicit users that supports this theory was conducted at West Coast University in 2011. The 5 subjects who were studied (random college students) all admitted that Adderall increased mental stamina, concentration, and time management that were much needed for academic deadlines. It was noted by one participant that the medication inhibited creativity and therefore should not be used for group work. All agreed that if given the opportunity, they would continue abusing the medication if it meant a successful career awaited them post-graduate school. The study established a few side effects that were common among all participants. These included sleep deprivation, a loss of appetite and a “crash-like” fatigue following the use of Adderall (Aikins 571). All of the participants were willing to suffer psychological detriments in exchange for a bright future. This study most definitely comments on the modern social cues in our society that revolve around the necessity to bring something new to the table and be a hot commodity in today’s job market.

The rise of “Generation Rx,” as our society has come to call us, has brought about many ethical questions that should be acknowledged with the new influx of mental performance-enhancement drugs. Many people who are opposed to the illicit use of these drugs, including myself, question the level of fairness in terms of academics. Should the work done by users of these medications be evaluated at the same standards as that done by the entire population? Absolutely not, but professors and other educators would never be able to tell the difference. Dr. Ross from the University of California at Los Angeles claims that research conducted on standardized testing has shown that Ritalin is thought to increase SAT scores for students with and without ADHD by over 100 points (Aikins 564). Grading in academics is generally used as a means to objectively assign and assess intelligence among students. But if a group of students has an advantage over the entire population, the system seems to collapse. Sometimes that extra 100 points can be the marker that sets an individual apart from the crowd. Rob Goodman provides support for this argument. According to him, when these drugs are used illicitly, the user’s intention is to “get ahead of the game” and jeopardize the opportunities of others achieving their own goals as is seen in SAT testing or job interviews. Because of this notion, the consumption of these illicit medications is highly unjust (Goodman 158). Nevertheless, the abuse of prescription medication in this fashion continues to be a growing issue in our society. As the job market becomes more competitive, so do the qualifications for students attempting to gain admittance to prestigious universities. As a result of this trend, there have been higher standards for SAT and ACT testing, as well as an increased pressure to obtain higher grades and diversify extracurricular involvements for students who hope to be accepted into these colleges. According to an article recently written by Richard Perez-Pena of the New York Times, in 1990, students who applied to seven or more colleges made up only about 9% of the applicant pool among national universities. In 2011, that statistic jumped up to 29% (Perez-Pena). Several universities including Cornell, Duke, and Stanford have noted that their admission rates have been cut well over 50% from ten years ago (Perez-Pena). This movement has increased the level of stress for students nationally. As long as expectations for a successful career path are kept extremely high, the trend of performance enhancement drug consumption on college campuses will continue to occur. As more students take this approach to their studies, the more competitive the job market and collegiate expectations become. Therefore, we have become consumed by a vicious cycle that seems to promote these illicit behaviors to no foreseeable end.

Abuse of prescription medication of this kind is a relatively new social problem within our society, and the long-term effects are still not well understood. Dr. Simon Outram, an expert on ethics, maintains that the illicit consumption of psycho-stimulant medications does not have detrimental effects on users. His basis for discussion extends from the fact that empirical data extracted from methylphenidate usage by illicit users demonstrates mixed results in cognitive enhancements. According to some studies, the drug is capable of “enhancing executive function on novel tasks,” but it has the potential to impair performance and restrict spatial awareness depending on the age of the user (Outram 199). Outram argues that this social issue occurring on college campuses is merely a factor of our obsessive need to feed into consumer culture because we live in a society driven by expectations. Social networks and media have amplified the capabilities of these drugs to reach super-human heights for ordinary people. Websites such as Twitter and Tumblr have consistently shown how popular these drugs can be. There has been a cultural trend among young adults on the Internet to publicly comment on the positive consequences of taking psycho-enhancement drugs. The increasing illicit use of Adderall and Ritalin among college students is based on this hypothetical notion that consuming these drugs guarantees a successful grade, career, etc. (Outram 200). Although mixed reviews do exist, the fact of the matter is that some students do react positively to these drugs and essentially use them as a coping mechanism to get by in their collegiate studies. Abusing prescription medications in any respect is harmful and causes physical and mental problems in the future that should be avoided at all costs. Long-term use of these medications can cause psycho-addictions that require rehabilitation efforts for recovery. Withdrawal symptoms for prescription drugs are much like any other drug. These include body aches, mood swings, and nausea (Outram 201). In fact, illicit use of medications like Ritalin has been shown to increase the chances of getting Alzheimer’s later in life (Outram 201).

Keeping Outram’s argument in mind, I think it is necessary to better educate college students through seminars about the potential effects and consequences of Adderall usage and similar drugs. Social awareness is the key to get rid of the myths and rumors surrounding the supposed potential of these drugs. The goal is not to intimidate students, but rather to educate them on healthier ways to cope with stress. Making a social science core requirement class dedicated to the neurological implications of prescription drug abuse is a serious approach to the issue. For institutions that are not able to apply these large measures, there are smaller events that can be conducted. Psychological services on campus could advertise free programming that deals with prescription drug abuse and its implications. Many universities sponsor educational events during “Welcome Week” for incoming students. Dedicating one of the seminars during this week to Adderall and Ritalin abuse is another tactical approach to this social problem. Awareness is key. When students are better educated on the topic, they will be more likely to make smart decisions about psycho-enhancement drug consumption. In the end, it’s nice to say that some pill gave you super-human powers. But in reality, you are no Super Man. You are merely a drug addict trying to escape the realities of life through every loophole you can find.

Works Cited

Aikins, Ross D. “Academic Performance Enhancement: A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions and Habits of Prescription Stimulant–Using College Students.” Journal of College Student Development 52.5 (2011): 560-576. Project MUSE. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

Goodman, Rob. “Cognitive Enhancement, Cheating, and Accomplishment.” Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 20.2 (2010): 145-160. Project MUSE. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

Outram, Simon M. “The Use of Methylphenidate among Students: The Future of Enhancement?” Journal of Medical Ethics 36.4 (2010): 198-202. BMJ. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.

Perez-Pena, Richard. “Best, Brightest and Rejected: Elite Colleges Turn Away Up to 95%.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 Apr. 2014. Web. 22 May 2014.

Ramsay, J. Russell. Nonmedication treatments for adult ADHD: Evaluating impact on daily functioning and well-being. American Psychological Association, 2010. Print.