College can become very overwhelming and stressful for most students. Long nights of studying, troublesome exams, and lengthy papers soon begin to weigh down most college students. Staying focused becomes difficult in college and most students turn to taking "smart drugs". The most commonly abused drug amongst college students is Adderall. The generic name for Adderall is amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Generally, Adderall is used to treat disorders such as narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control (Drugs.com). According to Martha J. Farah, director at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, more than 25% of college students on some college campuses have used this study drug in the past year. Adderall changes the amounts of certain natural substances in the human brain. It also is a stimulant, meaning it helps increase your ability to pay attention, stay focused on a specific task or …show more content…
Duda also quotes study statistics by the Center for Substance Abuse Research who found that Adderall was the most popular drug taken by students to increase mental performance. He then goes on to explain the health risks from the drug and legal ramifications. He uses factual information stating that Adderall is a Schedule II drug, meaning using it without a prescription or selling it are state and federal crimes and can lead to expulsion from the University. The author then concludes the article by stating that students who do not take Adderall think that a chemically enhanced ability to focus gives users an unfair