ADDERALL

Common side effects of Adderall used as prescribed include: dry mouth, loss of appetite, difficulty falling asleep, headache, weight loss and erectile dysfunction.

Because Adderall uses amphetamine stimulants to help the user concentrate for extended periods of time, many students today request Adderall from doctors in order to use it as a study aid. Thus, it is increasingly popular on college campuses. The largest benefit to students, however, is Adderall's ability to give students the power to focus on and learn what would usually be uninteresting material. Because of the appetite-suppressing properties of amphetamines, it is also sought after by those wishing to lose weight. Another less common use for students is to take Adderall before or during a night of heavy drinking in order to remain alert and active despite being intoxicated.

Research done by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows the more competitive the college, the higher the incidence of stimulant use. An article published stated the findings of a nationwide survey of thousands of college students. The findings of this past April 2006 survey shows 5.9% use rates among the more competitive campuses, compared to 1.3% use rates among less competitive campuses. Breaking down the use pattern even further, this same sample done by NIDA reveals whites were more likely to use stimulants compared to African Americans and Asians, at rates of 4.9%, 1.6%, and 1.3% respectively. Further, students with lower grade point averages of B’s or below use stimulants at a rate of 5.2%, compared to students earning B+ or above who use this medication at rates of only 3.3%. This research also specifically identified that students involved in sororities or fraternities use stimulants at a much higher rate of 8.6% compared to nonmembers who reported use at rates of only 3.3% (Whitten, 6).

Another major concern about the use of Adderall among college students is the psychological dependence that may cause students to lose faith in their own ability to perform well and the dependence on the advantageous effects of stimulant medication. Jackie Kurta, an Alcohol and Drug Specialist at UC Santa Barbara’s Student Heath Services states, “Students start out taking study drugs one time to study. The drugs work so well that the students begin to lose confidence in their own abilities to study without them,” (Hirschey).

The black market price of Adderall varies widely, and is often between $1.50 to $10 per pill (size also varies from 5 to 30mg.) In some cases, pills may sell for as little as $.20 or as much as $25.

Government warnings: Adderall

On February 9, 2005, Health Canada suspended all sales of Adderall XR after data collected by manufacturer, Shire Pharmaceuticals linked the drug to 12 sudden deaths in American children between the years 1999 to 2003. In August, 2005, Health Canada followed the committee report of three independent physicians and lifted the ban on Adderall XR – reason being that least two of the sudden deaths were found in individuals who were predisposed to heart problems. Also, those with ADD/ADHD are already a high risk group – the benefits of covering the effect being ADD/ADHD with prescriptions outweigh the drug’s inherent potential biological dangers.

Doctors advise against the use of Adderall in those persons with pre-existing cardiac or mental illnesses. They also suggest against its use in persons who have a history of drug abuse. Although FDA safety advisors voted 8 to 7 to issue a Black Box Warning, the FDA's pediatric advisory committee refused to give the drug its most severe black box warning in March, 2006. A Black Box Warning regarding amphetamine abuse potential is in place, however.