Adderall Should Be Banned

Final examinations will soon be taking place on college campuses across the United States, and on these campuses many students will resort to taking amphetamines in an effort to achieve the grades they desire. Whether they be blue, pink, or orange, there are few things in higher demand at universities during finals than these pills. Adderall, nicknamed Addy, is probably the most prominent, and is heavily relied on by students that want to speed through their remaining assignments. Despite being considered a “live-saver” by members of the college demographic, claims that it is the most abused prescription drug in America still exist. (cite) When Adderall was conceived, the purpose it fulfilled in American society was unlike that of today. Richwood

(cite) Aside from college students, the drug is most commonly associated with young adults and children that struggle at maintaining focus or at staying awake at normal hours. Males are much more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than females, and are responsible for the bulk of prescriptions being filled (cite). It should also be noted that the use of Adderall as a performance enhancing drug is spreading in the world of sports. Athletes are banned from using Adderall in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the NBA, Major League Soccer, the NCAA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The 2012 National Football League (NFL) season can serve as an example after the record for most drug suspensions was broken, players failing tests for Adderall accounted for one-third of all suspensions that year (cite). As previously mentioned, Richwood Pharmaceuticals sold it initially as a treatment for ADHD and narcolepsy. ADHD diagnoses are increasing at an alarming rate. As of 2011, 11 percent of people ages 4-17 were thought to have the disorder (cite). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released analytics that suggest ADD cases are also on the rise, attention deficit disorder is the non-hyperactive form of the disorder. According to 2010 U.S. Census data, the number of children between the ages of 5-17 being diagnosed with ADD rose 9 percent, from

As with all drugs, the side effects of Adderall vary in severity and frequency depending on the individual and how they take it. When the drug is taken recreationally in high doses or in conjunction with other drugs, undesired side effects are more likely to occur. Some of the more common physical side effects include hypertension (high blood pressure), tachycardia (increased heart rate), and loss of appetite. Amphetamine also activates the area in the human brain stem that controls the respiratory center, this process consequently accelerates the rate and depth of respiratory movements (cite). The psychological effects of Adderall are partially dependent on the individual user’s personality and their state of mind, typical side effects in therapeutic doses are alertness, apprehension, concentration, decreased sense of fatigue, and increased sociability (cite). In rare cases, heavy users have reportedly experienced amphetamine psychosis. Those who overdose are most likely to suffer from amphetamine psychosis, this condition is characterized by delusional thoughts, paranoia, and even hallucinations. Current statistics project that the number of people treated for amphetamine psychosis that never completely recover could be as much as 15 percent