Stimulant Drug Misuse

Recent research has found that 17% of college students misuse ADHD stimulant drugs. These drugs are popular at college campuses as they are assumed to help students focus on studying, therefore leading to an academic boost. In reality, the misuse of stimulant medications is associated with lower academic performance. It should be noted that “misuse” is defined as either using medication without a prescription or using higher doses of medication with a prescription.

According to research on various college campuses, the most common source for obtaining stimulant medication is from fellow students who are properly prescribed the drugs. As many as 82% of students consider it “somewhat or very easy” to illegally obtain stimulant medications. This is an astonishing number as it suggests that most students know of someone through the grapevine who distributes these drugs.

Misusing drugs allows people to think that ADHD is not serious. It may cause people to think that ADHD drugs are simply non-serious drugs to be toyed with. Due to the prevalence of the misuse of stimulant medication, prescriptions have become harder to receive for people who truly need the medication.

Although, it may be seen as a way to make money, ADHD stimulants are Schedule II controlled substances, which are illegal to possess without a prescription. People should be reminded that giving their ADHD drugs to other people is a serious felony with medical and criminal consequences.

As for solving this drug problem on campus, awareness of the harm and criminal consequences should be made more apparent. Since those involved in Greek life on campus have been shown to have higher rates of stimulant medication abuse, perhaps, programs should be designed to educate this population. Additionally, stricter punishments should be implemented for those Greek life members or any students caught abusing stimulant medications.

Please remember that this problem, although largely researched in the college population, is not limited to college students. Always keep your medications safe from others!

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Benson, K., Flory, K., Humphreys, K. L., & Lee, S. S. (2015). Misuse of stimulant medication among college students: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 18(1), 50-76. doi:10.1007/s10567-014-0177-z