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(The Vanderbilt Hustler) "Lock in” — a phrase employed habitually by today’s youth to communicate the necessity of concentration. “Locking in” requires discipline. It requires self-control. It requires...Adderall? Concerningly, a growing number of college students are relying on non-medical prescription stimulant drugs like Adderall to focus on their studies.
As a senior in college, you wouldn’t believe the number of times I’ve heard the term “undiagnosed ADHD” thrown around to justify taking an Adderall, especially when a final that’s 50% of your grade is approaching. Such excuses demonstrate my generation’s tendency to devalue the discipline of concentration. Humans aren’t born with this ability. It is a skill we must develop and improve. However, it’s likely that [nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NMPS)] is a growing issue due to decreasing attention spans and an instant gratification mindset typical of today’s average college student.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a legitimate mental health disorder, and stimulant drugs like Adderall are used to treat those professionally diagnosed with ADHD. Presently, more and more college students illegally use Adderall to enhance concentration and productivity. According to a survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the 18- to 25-year-old age group has the highest prevalence of NMPS, and 18- to 25-year-old college students are two times more likely to report NMPS than 18- to 25-year-olds not in college. Aside from the questionable ethics, non-prescribed use of any prescription-only medicine poses significant health risks. There are serious side effects, so it is critical that users be evaluated and prescribed the medicine by a licensed healthcare professional. College students [engaging in] NMPS skip the medical evaluation and prescription process, unknowingly subjecting themselves to serious health consequences.