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Students say yes to ADHD drugs |
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Location: Blogs News about ADHD and ADD |   | | Posted by: SuperUser Account | Thursday, January 11, 2007 | VANCOUVER (CUP)—In professional health programs such as medicine or pharmacy, students are being equipped with knowledge that can be used to abuse the health-care system to their benefit. And, while many forego this practice, others don’t.
Students are increasingly finding that the drugs, such as Dexedrine—a drug that functions to lessen fatigue, increase mental activity, elevate mood and create a general feeling of well being—can be helpful in increasing their capacity to study for long hours.
“You can just take a bunch of Dexedrine in the morning, and then you can sit in the library for up to 16 hours without getting tired, and it helps you focus too—fewer distractions,” explained a pharmacy student at UBC who wished to remain anonymous.
Ritalin and Dexedrine, both amphetamines—a drug class that includes cocaine—act as stimulants of the sympathetic nervous system and are intended as therapy for people who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).
“You can get used to it. Once you experience the relative ease of studying with Dexedrine, it’s hard to study without,” added the student. “It’s like, why would you put in the extra effort when you can just cram in one night with Dexedrine and achieve the same results?”
High doses of Dexedrine can result in euphoria, but upon withdrawal it can revert to severe depression and lethargy. These side effects, along with the risk of developing heart arrhythmia and a whole host of related conditions, were why Elinda Ho, the attending doctor in the student clinic, was surprised this kind of abuse was happening.
“Students in the health programs at UBC should know better than anyone else the kinds of side effects these drugs can have, that’s why I am surprised this would be happening,” she said.
Ho explained that prescriptions for these drugs aren’t given easily because of their potential for abuse, and because of their street value: Ritalin is used to cut cocaine, a practice that is common in Vancouver.
The procedure for detection of ADHD is not foolproof. If someone presents with symptoms potentially relating to the disorder, they’re usually sent to an ADHD clinic where they undergo several tests to evaluate their condition. The tests are verbal, and someone who’s aware of what’s being looked for could presumably fake it.
“That’s a lot of hassle to go through though, and can potentially not result in a prescription,” Ho said. “I would think that would be deterrent enough for these kids in comparison to the minor edge the drug might get them.”
Still, in the competitive world of UBC, even a minor edge can be life altering. But not all students are choosing this route.
Logan McNeil, a third-year pharmacy student, said that although he knows he could potentially have access to the drug, he prefers to study the old-fashioned way.
“It’s really a matter of ethics, I think. I mean, in anything competitive, school or sports or otherwise, there are always going to be people who are looking for an unfair advantage,” he said.
“Ethically, though, you would hope most people don’t, and are just willing to put in the hard work. Especially in professional programs where knowing the information is vital to your job.”
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