A tiny blue pill is changing the party scene at every college campus, but for the partiers who take the attention deficit disorder drug Adderall, they could be risking more than they understand.
Adderall has become a necessity for longer nights at the bar. Photo is credited to University of Alabama Health Sciences.
“It is like the miracle drug,” says Scott, a junior at West Virginia University, who requested that his real name not be used. The interview was taking place right as his night was begining, and his plan was to start the night off with Adderall so he could rage until morning hours.
“You can drink twice the amount without getting sick, you never blackout, and it counteracts the depressant aspect of alcohol,” says Scott, who has no problem popping the pill into his mouth in the middle of the interview.
When all of Scott’s friends were asked if they had ever taken Adderall to party, the reaction from all of them was, “Of course, who hasn’t?”
John, Scott’s fraternity brother, went on to say, “If you have taken Adderall to study, then you have definitely taken it to party, and I know very few people who haven’t taken the drug to study before.”
The use of Adderall and alcohol together has been on the rise for the past five years, according to a study done by the Younkin Success Center in Columbus, Ohio. Five years ago, however, only five percent of the people were taking the drug to party, and when they did, they were a lot more quiet about it.
Word about the “miracle drug” spread like rapid fire since then, and now a student cannot go out without hearing about Adderall at least three times throughout the night.
The problem is because students do not see anything wrong with the drug. To them, it has no harmful effects and is simply the miracle drug. The truth, however, is partiers who mix alcohol and Adderall are at risk of problems such as dangerous respiratory problems, paranoid or psychotic reactions, and cardiac arrhythmias, said the WVU student health center.
Very few students at West Virginia University care about the effects because to them, Adderall has none. Students are not afraid of the side effects because they are so rare. The only side effects that occur often when taking the drug and drinking is drinking too much, which in their eyes could happen with or without the Adderall.
Graduate students are also joining in on the fun every weekend. Brooke, whose name has been withheld, is currently finishing up her second year of law school and does not think the drug has any negative effects besides the crash at the end of the night.
“I have been at this university for six years now and if you take an appropriate amount of Adderall before you go out, you will be just fine, better than fine actually,” says Brooke.
Brooke snorts the Adderall pills, which gives her a speedier onset, but also intensifies the risk of side effects. “I’ve taken it for about three years. The first time was when we had an earlier football game and I wanted to be able to go out that night. It was the best feeling being able to have the energy to do whatever I wanted,” explained Brooke.
When asked what she thought about the side effects, Brooke responded, “I don’t believe there is a high risk of anything too serious happening.”
Every student I spoke to does not realize the severity of taking someone else’s prescribed drug. Not only could they be arrested for carrying illegal drugs, they also do not understand what is happening to their body once they pop the pill and mix it with alcohol. Adderall is dangerous and it is about time students realize it.
Edited by Shannon Windisch
