Preventing Adderall Abuse in Colleges

COMMENTARY | As a college student, there was a small container that I held sacred: my medications. I was diagnosed with ADHD my sophomore year and immediately put on Adderall. Despite a few annoying side effects (including sleeplessness), the medication really helped to curb impulsive behaviors. My grades immediately returned to the A's and B's I had received in a more structured high school environment.

I was really grateful to have Adderall, but also worried that it might get stolen. ADHD stimulant abuse is common at many colleges and I suspected that my school was no exception. My psychiatrist warned me to keep my drugs safe, telling me horror stories of students whose drugs were stolen and sold on the black market. My paltry insurance plan didn't cover the cost of Adderall and I really couldn't afford to lose the pills for which I paid nearly $300 a month.

In light of recent cases of Adderall abuse, schools are starting to crack down on students who sell and use these drugs. For example, Duke University has added "the unauthorized use of prescription medication" to the long list of activities that fall under the umbrella of academic dishonesty.

While I do think it is important for schools to be aware of the problem that is prescription drug abuse, I really don't think they'll have any success enforcing heavy-handed rules. It is easy to tell when somebody is abusing alcohol or marijuana, but the signs of ADHD stimulant abuse are far more subtle. College campuses are more likely to succeed if they target Adderall dealers. When a student is caught using an illicit ADHD stimulant, he or she should be allowed to get off on a warning in exchange for information on the source of the drug. Handing out drugs to those lacking prescriptions is a serious offense. Adderall does not react well with certain drugs, so by selling it without a prescription, students are putting their peers at risk. If caught, the dealers should be punished accordingly.

Schools also need to crack down on the causes of Adderall abuse. Typically, abuse is caused by poor study habits and an excess of partying. Other students simply are taking on excessively large course loads and need to understand their limits. College campuses can also prevent illicit ADHD stimulant use by raising awareness on the risks of using Adderall and other drugs without a prescription. A little work will go a long way in curbing the problem.