When you need to be up all night studying or writing a paper, what do you turn to?  I would think that most of you would answer adderall because just about everyone I know has used it to stay focused during aggressive crunch sessions at the library but a recent study says that only 25% of college students have used it.  I’m not in any way advocating the abuse of drugs to enhance academic performance but the stat surprised me. Apparently we’re not the only ones popping the magic concentration pills to stay alert.  I’ve heard that football players use it to better their performance and according to House (the best damn tv show period) soccer moms are using to keep up their perfect lives.

How many of you have used adderall?  I’d really love to know.

For those of you that HAVE used it, a quick blurb from wikipedia to maybe deter you from eating the focus candy (my professors would cringe):

“Adderall has a high abuse potential. Due to the fact that Adderall has a powerful effect of increasing blood pressure, it carries the same risk of sudden death, stroke, and heart attack in patients with pre-existing heart conditions, as does methylphenidate and other stimulants used to treat ADHD, as well as the same risk of seizures in patients with a history of seizures.^[1][25] Studies of long-term use of Adderall and methylphenidate in children have shown a temporary decrease in growth rate that does not affect final adult height.^[26] Stimulant medications also decrease appetite in some people, leading to weight loss, and this effect is more common with Adderall than methylphenidate^[26] or atomoxetine. Changes in vision have been reported with both Adderall and methylphenidate.^[1][25] “In extreme cases, the drug can cause paranoia, hallucinations and heart attacks.”

I think that adderall is used by more than 25% of university students.  I also think that most of us don’t think it’s a big deal.  What do you think?