Adderall's Drug Addiction Research Paper

Stimulants like these are used by students because of the effects it has on the user. Adderall makes the user stay awake and feel alert and focused, this makes it the perfect drug for a college student looking to stay up all night to study. College students are the ones most commonly taking Adderall without a prescription because its effects can help students stay awake to cram for tests, Amy Laskowski in “The other side of Adderall” claims: “A fall 2007 American College Health Association study found that over 90 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by all that they had to do” (1). It is not a surprise when it comes to college students using these illegal prescription drugs to boost abilities and to study harder and longer. The problem

As with all drugs, the side effects of Adderall vary in severity and frequency depending on the individual and how they take it. When the drug is taken recreationally in high doses or in conjunction with other drugs, undesired side effects are more likely to occur. Some of the more common physical side effects include hypertension (high blood pressure), tachycardia (increased heart rate), and loss of appetite. Amphetamine also activates the area in the human brain stem that controls the respiratory center, this process consequently accelerates the rate and depth of respiratory movements (cite). The psychological effects of Adderall are partially dependent on the individual user’s personality and their state of mind, typical side effects in therapeutic doses are alertness, apprehension, concentration, decreased sense of fatigue, and increased sociability (cite). In rare cases, heavy users have reportedly experienced amphetamine psychosis. Those who overdose are most likely to suffer from amphetamine psychosis, this condition is characterized by delusional thoughts, paranoia, and even hallucinations. Current statistics project that the number of people treated for amphetamine psychosis that never completely recover could be as much as 15 percent

College can become very overwhelming and stressful for most students. Long nights of studying, troublesome exams, and lengthy papers soon begin to weigh down most college students. Staying focused becomes difficult in college and most students turn to taking "smart drugs". The most commonly abused drug amongst college students is Adderall. The generic name for Adderall is amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Generally, Adderall is used to treat disorders such as narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control (Drugs.com). According to Martha J. Farah, director at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, more than 25% of college students on some college campuses have used this study drug in the past year. Adderall changes the amounts of certain natural substances in the human brain. It also is a stimulant, meaning it helps increase your ability to pay attention, stay focused on a specific task or

The lack of knowledge concerning the effects Adderall has on one’s health and the misuse of the drug has led many students to believe that there are no negative side effects of the drug. The negative effects of Adderall on the human body outweigh the positive effects that are better known by college students. Ninety-five percent of the articles in media reports “mentioned at least one possible benefit of using prescription drugs for neuro-enhancement, but only fifty-eight percent mentioned any risks or side effects” (Lakhan). Since the negative effects of Adderall are not talked about much by the media not many college students are aware of what they are taking and what could happen. Negative side effects of Adderall and drugs similar to it

For weeks four and five we read Dirsken, chapters two and four. There were several key points throughout these two chapters, but three stood out to me the most.

Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to focus and other behaviors. Adderall is often prescribed to those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, and other brain disorders. Although the prescribed use of Adderall has helped those suffering attention deficit disorders, the recent rise in nonmedical use of Adderall has led to unfair academic advantages along with an increased pressure to use stimulants among students.

The amount of any substance ingested will correspond with the effect it will have on the body. Nonetheless, some psychedelic drugs have more intense effects than others. For example, dextromethorphan (DXM) is a synthetic drug that is found in common over-the-counter drugs that can be safe and effective when used properly. If used improperly however, it can cause muscle spasms, blurred vision, increased heart rate, slurred speech, and anxiety. Despite this, DXM users continue to abuse the drug in the hopes of feeling a sense of euphoria and visual hallucinations. This is just one example of the effects that psychedelic drugs have on the human body.

Side effects are typically worse during initial days of treatment. Required “Black Box” warnings for Adderall include high abuse potential, drug dependence, and increased risk of serious cardiovascular adverse events and sudden death (Moore, 2014). Adverse effects of Adderall also include CNS and cardiac toxicity (Kee, 2012). This drug is contradicted in some patients. Adderall should not be prescribed to patients with known structural heart abnormality, arrhythmia, or hypertension. Inappropriate dosing or taking with alcohol increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects like myocardial infarction even without underlying cardiovascular risk factors (Jiao,

The specified medication involved in treating the disorder involves the application of ADHD stimulants meaning that if the drug is taken as prescribed by the medical doctor, the behavior and attention insignificance will be reduced remarkably. ADHD drugs are commonly abused by people through injection, insufflation, even rectal administration of the pills. Different research conducted has illustrated the illegal use of ADHD medication for their stimulating properties. Research indicates that students using the drug as a stimulant shows a positive increase in performance and cognitive skills (Vester, Brady and Galanter 78). Additionally, college students abusing the drug through using it as a stimulant state believe that the drug revives the body and the brain hence increase the ability to focus academically. Students have also explained that the drug reduces their need for sleep and thus one can stay awake for a long period of

The misuse of Adderall, a most commonly prescribed stimulant to treat Attention-Deficit Disorder, is a growing on U.S. college campuses. Studies show a “…range from 7.1% to 29% among adults, 5.3% to 55% among college students, and 1.7% to 4.5% among adolescents” (Weyandt et al. 20). The abuse of Adderall and other ‘study drugs’ e.g.

Adderall is that the brand of a prescription medication accustomed treat attention deficit upset disorder (ADHD) in kids and adults.

Drugs such as Adderall is help for health purposes but taking it incorrectly or too much can cause major harm to the body. Everyday Health warns,“Adderall can increase your risk for heart problems, high blood pressure, and stroke. If the person taking Adderall has a history of a heart defect or other heart problems, there is a risk for sudden death.” It can also damage the mind and create mental problems that were not there before taking the medication. “Adderall may increase your risk for mental health problems, including depression, bipolar disorder, and unusual behaviors including aggressive or hostile behavior.”(Everyday Health) It won’t hurt to do a bit of research on any prescribed or non-prescribed medicine and is more helpful to ask your physician any questions or concerns you may be

“Small amounts of methamphetamine can result in many of the same physical effects… these include increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and increased body temperature.” Since methamphetamine is a stimulant drug, it does in fact harm the brain in a negative way also. The drug can cause a person to be awake at a time people will typically sleep. A long term effect the drug have on the human body is, sores that comes from scratching, dental problems with the drug attacking your teeth and extreme weight loss (National Institute on Drug Abuse). It is rare, but methamphetamine can be used medicinally. If you have an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the doctor may prescribe methamphetamine to help with the disorder (National Institute on Drug

These chemicals can explode.When I gave my three-year-old son some cheese to eat, I did not know that I was giving him poisoned food. I was too stoned on meth to notice, until twelve hours later, that my son was deathly ill. But then I was so stoned it took me two hours to figure out how to get him to the hospital five miles away. By the time I got to the emergency room my boy was pronounced dead of a lethal dose of ammonia hydroxide—one of the chemicals used to make meth.” —Melanie. I got that story from Drug Free World. When taking meth and crystal meth it creates a false sense of wellness and energy. Continued use of this drug leads to decrease natural feelings of hunger, users can have extreme weight loss. Other effects are disturbed sleep patterns, increased anger, and irritability. Long term effects include heart rate and blood pressure. Damaged blood vessels in the brain which can lead to stroke or irregular heartbeat. People that use this drug may have brain damage or suffer from memory loss. There are 7 stages when you take meth the first is rush. A rush Is the initial response the abuser feels when you inject it, snort it, and smoke it. During the

It can have many side effects and the longer you use the drug the more damage it can cause. It contains THC which is the ingredient in the drug that makes you feel ‘high’. Effects caused by marijuana consist of: anxiety, moodiness, depression, paranoia, memory loss (short term), an increase in heart rate, dilated pupils, an increase in appetite and also it causes a slower reaction time for users. Although not all users get addicted to marijuana, studies have shown that almost 10% of users do get addicted. It often leads to users going on and using other more addictive drugs. So the question is, why would a drug with all these negative side effects be used as a pharmaceutical drug? WebMD. 2014. How does marijuana affect you? [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/marijuana-use-and-its-effects. [Accessed 08 January 15].