Essay On Cognition Enhancers

The Clinton foundation reports that between the years 1993 and 2006, the magnitude of college students who use prescription stimulants, such as Adderall and Ritalin, has increased by 93%, which suggests that Adderall usage in universities are at a record high (Clinton 2015). According to the National Institute of health, cognitive enhancing drugs are pharmaceuticals that are taken to improve one’s memory, learning, focus, attention, and other cognitive skills (Mehlman 2004). Adderall is a central nervous stimulant that is prescribed by a primary physician for treating medical conditions such as narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Smith). Alan Desantis, a professor at the University of Kentucky, conducted a research

Adderall is a combination of stimulants (Fitzgerald & Bronstein, 2013) used to increase the patient’s ability to concentrate, focus and pay attention. The highest misuse of Adderall is by college students looking to enhance their ability to study and take test (Fitzgerald & Bronstein, 2013). The higher availability of Adderall for use by adolescents suffering from ADHD has increased the reports of misuse by adults especially students who are in need of a stimulant to increase brain function and awareness. According to Fitzgerald & Bronstein (2013) Adderall can only be prescribed by a licensed physician, just as ADHD can only by diagnosed by a psychologist, psychiatrist or physician, but the prevalent misuse of this drug persist on a national level. Primary concerns related to Adderall and other ADHD stimulant drugs are cardiovascular and central nervous system complications, which both may be fatal (Adis,

Susie Lomelino “[it] is a drug widely reported to increase alertness, concentration and overall cognitive performance, while decreasing fatigue – but it is also a drug widely abused across college campuses” (Highly Addictive Nature of Prescription 1). “Adderall is a synthetic drug that contains a combination of amphetamine salts. Approximately 72.7 percent of Adderall is made of lisdexamfetamine (Vyanse), and the rest is levoamphetamin” (Moore 90). Adderall is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (Adderall 1).

The use of illegal substances is rapidly increasing in the college sports due to the expansion of supplements used by athletes that are being banned. In a study done, athletes were asked if illicit drugs would negatively impact their performance. Majority of them responded “yes”, their main reasoning being; the effects of illicit drugs were both mental and physically damaging. Illicit drugs come in many forms, but the testing procedures are all the same for any substance. There is almost always a consequence with the use of prohibited substances. Drug testing is appropriate to help ensure the safety of student athletes while they participate in intercollegiate contests. (Krotee, M 555).

With the increased pressure to succeed and the chaotic collegiate lifestyle taking a toll on students, Adderall has evolved into the “go-to drug.” The Class II prescription amphetamine is intended to solely treat individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The stimulant “works to enhance concentration by stimulating the production of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain” (Stolz 585). Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of Adderall on college campuses to enhance academic performance and cram for exams through the over-stimulation of the brain, therefore “creating super-enhanced focus” (Stolz 585), deeming it the “smart drug.” Due to the fact that several students are not truly diagnosed with ADHD, a majority of this use on campuses is illegal; this has become a growing problem affecting the health of students and entailing “issues of competiveness and fairness” (Jacobs 1). In recent years, the abuse of Adderall has circulated hundreds of college campuses and even secondary schools.

I first tried this drug last year to see what effect it would have on my attention problems, and I had no idea that I would find myself enjoying it so much or consider it so beneficial. I used both extended and rapid release adderall many times throughout the course of last year to help me better focus on my school work and to complete major assignments like papers or studying for tests. After my experiences with adderall I began to question the possibility that I was suffering from ADHD, a disorder that runs in my family. Since entering college I have felt my concentration abilities plummet significantly, and I have developed other habits such as receptive foot bobbing and the inability to stay on task. A positive aspect of adderall is that it enabled me to focus in a way I have never felt in my entire life. The negative aspects of adderall include how it suppresses your appetite, makes it impossible for you to sleep, and makes your heart beat a million miles per

According to a 2009 study, white students, Greek organization participation, students with low grade point averages and students who attend competitive schools are the most likely to abuse Adderall (Rabiner). In the same study at Duke University, about eighteen percent of students had taken Adderall at least ten times within six months (Rabiner). In general, these are students that procrastinate or have too much activity worked into their schedule. In a different study from the New Yorker, results showed that users of Adderall were ten times more likely to have smoked marijuana and twenty times more likely to use cocaine (Gillen). The students that take Adderall want to improve poor grades or allow more time to study.

The use of Adderall is steadily increasing everywhere and ex-specially in colleges. Students are continually pushed and pushed by the people and the things in their life’s that are driving them to be in school and to maintain certain grades to achieve their goals. With all this presser to do good in

Adderall, a prescription drug, was first developed to treat patients that suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Students and young professionals that

In the modern world of college, an excessive use of the academic steroid, Adderall, has become an easily acquired study drug. It is important to note that Adderall use is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue among students, and can no longer be ignored. Many medical professionals have discovered the benefits of regularly taking Adderall, but unfortunately have unknowingly contributed to the ease of attainability of the academic steroid. Some may argue that the enhancer acts as a remedy to the growing need for focus, when in fact this resolution has led to a whole new set of overwhelming problems such as addiction and unnecessary use.

Some key issues with fatuous college students is that they are influenced by outside forces very easy. This could be anything from other students to their coaches. In a study of a division one college and a division three college, three participants said “if the coach is saying, ‘take these illegal performance-enhancers,’ you are going to want to do that because… you are gonna want to play… you are going to want to do what the coach says” (“Voices of Male athletes on drug use, drug testing, and the existing order in intercollegiate athletes”). This is just one example of where coaches are pressuring students into using illegal drugs just to perform better. Since the coach is in charge of how the drugs test are being displayed, the student-athlete will not get into trouble which in turn will hurt them later on. An example of when a coach deviated from the rules and actually got fired for skewing results is at

In recent years the number of athletes caught using drugs has increased dramatically. The use of a illegal or unprescribed drugs can cause serious problems and unfairness in many ways. Certain drugs can cause harm to the user and the people around the user, most student athletes do not even know what they are putting into their bodies. With all the risks many persons propose student athletes to be drug tested at random.

The study titled “Illicit use of Prescription ADHD Medications on College campuses, by DeSantis, Webb, & Noar, (2008) from the Journal of American College Health,” is both quantitative and qualitative in design, because the authors used mass surveys to gather statistics and in-depth interviews to collect personal information.

Study drugs have a variety of side effects. Adderall has similar effects to cocaine, it can be addictive and can have strong withdrawal symptoms.“ADHD stimulants are categorized by the FDA under Schedule II drugs. Due to this categorization, the penalties are strict, and similar to having bought bought, sold, or possessed cocaine or speed. The typical Adderall pill comes in various dosages. The most popular tends to be 20 mg on campuses. In the United States, for possession of less than 1 gram of Adderall the charge is similar to State jail felony, with a maximum range of 180 days to 2 years in a state jail” (“Study Drugs”). Not only can study drugs be criminal to the health of an individual,

More and more, of our society views winning more important than itself. Success in competition brings status, popularity, and fame, not to mention college scholarships. Today’s athletes are looking for an advantage over the competition that will make them winners. Unfortunately, the drugs of today are caught up in the high stakes competition frenzy. Of this reality, teenage use of performance improved drugs is growing ever more popular. In colleges and in the professional league a lot of people are doing drugs and its ruining their health and life. Also, if some teenagers take performance drugs they are making them better than everyone else giving themselves an advantage over everyone else which is cheating, so why should they get money