Prescription Stimulants: Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine

Stimulants such as Ritalin and Concerta (classified as methylphenidates) and Adderall and Dexedrine (classified as dextroamphetamines) are prescribed to treat certain conditions, principally attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although the drugs are stimulants, in those who have a hyperactivity disorder they have the reverse effect and produce a calming and focusing effect. When used as prescribed, the drugs have little potential for addiction.

Abuse

People without ADHD who abuse these drugs do so seeking the stimulant effect. The drugs increase blood pressure and heart rate and produce speed-like effects such as loss of appetite, increased concentration, wakefulness, and in some cases euphoria. Due to these effects, students may abuse Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and Dexedrine to stay awake and alert beyond their natural ability, in order to continue studying or partying. Experts feel that this is one reason why these prescription stimulants are among the few drugs other than alcohol that national studies like Monitoring the Future demonstrate college students abuse at higher rates than their noncollege peers. Abusers of these drugs crush the tablets and snort, inject, or take them orally.

Abusers find several sources of these drugs. Students who have been prescribed the drugs legitimately to treat ADHD may hoard their drugs and share or sell them to others. In addition, some abusers pretend to have the symptoms of ADHD and seek a prescription from campus health services or another health care provider. Another source is rogue online pharmacies or drug retailers that provide the drugs without checking for or verifying prescriptions.

Consequences

Because these are not street drugs but are developed and produced in regular laboratories, some abusers feel the drugs are “safer” to use. Nevertheless, abusing prescription drugs regularly can lead to heightened tolerance and addiction. However, when used without medical supervision even for brief periods for intensive studying or recreationally for partying, the drugs have the many harmful side effects of stimulant abuse, including headaches, fatigue, depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, paranoia, malnutrition due to decreased appetite, cardiac irregularities, and convulsions or seizures, which may be life-threatening. Mixing alcohol or other drugs, especially decongestants, with these stimulants exaggerates these effects. When injected, the drugs risks expand to include infection, HIV, hepatitis, and blood vessel blockages. Finally, injecting the drugs carries the risk of a toxic overdose to users.

Effective Prevention

Effective prevention approaches for stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and Dexedrine can be quite different from street drugs or other illicit drugs. Because of the legitimate and common medical applications of the drugs, prevention professionals try to avoid stigmatizing the drugs themselves, focusing instead on addressing the illegitimate and dangerous abuse of the drugs. Some successful measures that are especially useful for campus medical staff include limiting access to these drugs by prescribing them in small quantities; requiring confirming or re-diagnoses of conditions treated by the drugs; investigating instances where a student may suddenly or unexpectedly report ADHD symptoms, frequently lose his or her pills and require replacements, or request specific drugs by name; and blocking access to online pharmacies, where students may obtain the drugs without a valid prescription.