Daily headlines of almost all sports news agencies features stories on steroid use in professional sports. News on the use of performance enhancing drugs by Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and other players in the major league seems to be unending. Athletes in other field of sports such as NHL, like the updates on the Williamses, the MMA, and cycling are still hot topics to cover. Use of performance enhancing drug is considered by many as cheating since it gives an athlete a boost in his performance. This is the reason why sports organization prohibited the use of these drugs. However, another issue that is interesting to discuss is the use of mind enhancing drugs used by students. A recent study shows that mind enhancers are still popular in high school and college students even if it can give them undesirable side effects. Ethical issues are also raised by many since it can also give the student a boost in his performance in school.

Mind enhancing drugs are actually used for medical conditions. It is a prescription drug used to treat ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Experts warn taking such drugs without a prescription can put users at risk of addiction and other side effects. Taking these prescription stimulants to help stay awake, alert and improve concentration is considered by school administrators and other students as cheating. College students have used stimulants such as No Doz caffeine pills, Dexedrine and Benzedrine to help them stay awake and alert but Adderall became popular because it helps them concentrate for longer periods of time. According to the research, the rise in Adderall use comes as young people are increasingly consuming prescription drugs to get high and as organized sports grapple with performance-enhancing substances. Many students turn to this drug because of very competitive academic world which give them an edge as they vie for jobs and spots in graduate schools.

Professor Sean Esteban McCabe of the University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center said that the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among U.S. college students is now at its highest level in 15 years. There is an increase in the illegal use of prescription stimulants by college students as compared to its use for the treatment of legitimate medical conditions, This was the result of a study by McCabe in 2003. Experts also warn users that Adderall can have severe side effects, including dizziness, insomnia and the potential for addiction.

The misuse of academic steroids is most prevalent in private colleges based on a study conducted in 2006 by Northeastern University. In the survey of 4,500 college students, they found out that Adderall was the most popular drug among the 6 percent who had illegally used a prescription stimulant in the past year.

Some students who were interviewed on the use of prescription stimulants said that the drug helped them in the treatment of their medical condition, however it can lead to addiction if not monitored and controlled properly. Students with ADHD are usually the source of this drugs. A senior student at UC Berkeley who has a prescription for Adderall said that he get phone calls from other students asking him for the drug. This is frequent weeks before an exam and he usually give it for free.

Another student who is also taking the drug for her medical condition said that she increased the intake of the pills during exams. She took more than the allowed dosage for her treatment. According to her she also sold this drug to her friends. “I would try to get people to start it so that they would like it and want more. I would give them a couple pills in the beginning, and then when they liked it, which always happens, they would want more,” she said. Other students also compare this drug to energy drinks which helped them perform better in day to day work.

Stimulants like Adderall is listed as a Schedule II controlled substance by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. It is illegal for anyone without a prescription to possess or use the drug.

Shire PLC, Adderall’s manufacturer, says it is the responsibility of the patients to use the drug properly and it warns against using the drug without a prescription. They are also aware of the reports of the drug’s misuse by high school and college students but said that they have already taken several steps to educate patients about the dangers of using the drug improperly or sharing it with other students. The spokesperson of the company, Matt Cabrey said the company distributes brochures to the parents of middle school- and high school-age patients helping them identify signs that their child could be giving away or selling their pills.

According to Cabrey, if the child is still exhibiting symptoms of ADHD, that might be an indication they’re not taking their medication. “Are they not taking their medication because they forgot? Or are they not taking it because they had 30 pills for the month and instead of taking all 30, they diverted 15 by selling them to their classmates?” he added.

By the way, stimulants like Adderall is not only popular among students. There are also reports that amphetamine use is also popular in baseball.

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