The media’s depiction of college life often includes scenes of extracurricular experimentation with illegal substances as well as excessive consumption of legal substances. These scenes normally take place in party atmospheres and involve poor decision-making skills and a lack of responsibility. On a smaller scale, these scenes can be found on nearly every college campus.
    However, there is one substance abuse issue rarely portrayed in the dramatic interpretation of the college lifestyle. Its use prevails across campuses nationwide, but rather than increasing the chances of bad decisions, the purpose of its use is to increase focus and improve one’s performance in school or work.  
    The abuse of medication intended to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is, according to Alan DeSantis, a professor and research professional at the University of Kentucky, in an interview for CNN.com, “abused more than marijuana and is easier to get.” The research performed by DeSantis revealed 30 percent of students at his university had illegally used ADHD medications like Ritalin, Adderall, etc. as a stimulant. That percentage increased in the studies performed solely on upperclassmen (CNN.com).
    The federal government considers most forms of ADHD medication as a schedule II drug. This category of drug is reserved for substances that have “the highest abuse potential and dependence profile of all drugs that have medical utility” (CNN.com).
  Despite how serious the circumstances that surround ADHD medication may seem, I feel one would be hard-pressed to find a student without acquaintances who have abused drugs in this manner or have not abused the drugs themselves.
   I am personally prescribed to ADHD medication. I acknowledge that some people are skeptical of the legitimacy of ADHD as an illness in general. However, that is the topic of another article entirely, and for the sake of brevity, I will admit I need my medicine. Any one of my friends or family members can attest to the fact that my ability to focus is, to put it lightly, challenged, not in the sense that I am lazy and choose not to focus but more in the sense that I have difficulty completing thoughts and driving because I am so easily distracted. In regards to schoolwork, my medicine provides an extra boost of focus needed to finish out assignments or complete tests in a timely manner. But schoolwork was not the driving force behind my decision to be tested for ADHD. I chose to be tested so that I could potentially be more focused and efficient in my day-to-day life.
    Some of my friends who choose to ingest ADHD medication without being prescribed have ulterior motives that range anywhere from staying up later for recreational activities to weight loss, but the primary reason behind taking the medication illegally is to perform better in school. I sometimes have a difficult time judging my peers for this action because I know very well that taking the medication does make schoolwork seem more natural. Their intentions are good; they want to perform well in class.
However, the way many college students abuse these substances is alarming. These medications are meant to be taken routinely. You are suggested to take them at roughly the same time every day, and you are encouraged to maintain a healthy sleep schedule, diet and exercise regimen while doing so. Failing to meet these requirements can result in negative side effects including headaches, nervousness and depression.
   Many college students take these medications with little to no regard for the dangers of their misuse. Taking ADHD meds at 2 a.m. during finals week to pull off an all-nighter before your 8 o’clock test is not only a poor habit to create, but it threatens one’s health and well-being. Because of the frequency of the misuse of these medications, students have become desensitized to the danger they inflict upon themselves. I encourage all college students to become familiar with the proper uses of ADHD medication, and to continue to pursue academic excellence, but to do so in a safe and healthy way.