All across America college campus are facing a war on drugs. Dorms, libraries, and classrooms are being flooded with students who regularly take these drugs. It is not meth, heroine or ecstasy we are talking about. Instead, it is a rather beneficial group of drugs called cognitive enhancers; know as study drugs by students. Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta are consumed by the thousands daily by students trying to get an extra boost in order to study. Typically prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), drugs such as these are easily obtained by students on most college campuses. The main issue this brings is the rise in abuse and misuse. Because there is the potential for abuse, drugs such as these have gained negative labels and harsh punishment. This makes it more difficult to those unable to get prescriptions for such drugs to recreationally use and benefit from doing so. By enabling undiagnosed students to experiment with drugs such as these students will benefit positively, and awareness of the potential dangers of such drugs will be raised. Cognitive enhancers should be regulated and distributed by trained professionals at college health centers in safe doses through a student registration system.
There is no arguing that this is a problem. Students consuming drugs that have not been prescribed to them creates several health and safety issues. Stimulants are prescribed to patients with ADHD because they have insufficient quantities of certain chemical messengers. The medicine prescribed brings the messengers to more normal levels allowing normal behavior (Selikowitz6). Students unaware of what they are doing to their brains are at risk. The business created in buying and selling these drugs turns average college students into criminals in the eyes of our justice system. Possession of a controlled substance such as Adderall or Ritalin is a felony in Colorado along with many other sta
Even bigger than that, there are several medical arguments to be made. The side effects of these drugs are scientifically and clinically proven. An average human being with normal brain should not be regularly taking medicine designed for the unique brain of an attention deficit disorder patient. Medical professional and concerned parents will argue that these drugs need to be kept reserved only for those who require them to function normally. By allowing the public access to such medication will true patients care be affected? Many people diagnosed might feel threatened or feel this insults their disease. Using medication for other purposes than intended can be looked down upon. The argument of cheating can also be mentioned. Does using a chemical to stimulate your brain to increase performance fall into the same category as plagiarism? Many would use this to argue that using study drugs to get good grades is the same as using steroids to hit home runs. While some may not see the issue this creates on college campuses, or overlook the medical side effects, study drugs are a problem.
When talking about stimulants a NPR journalist states “25% of students on some campuses have used these drugs this year”(Trudeau). 1 out of 4 is all that needs to be said to explain the seriousness of this issue. That kind of a statistic cannot be ignored. When that large of a student population is consuming controlled substances without prescriptions there is clearly a problem. Cognitive enhancers are not hard to find. Commonly sold in dorms and libraries, they are available to almost every student. The combination of real patients and people who have faked symptoms to obtain their own prescription creates a constant supply for user. This creates a network of patients, criminals and students.
Many students avoid the risk of selling their medication for money. Others take advantage of the constant demand and turn to selling them like drugs. Oftentimes students get caught up in the mix of things and end up facing punishment and being treated as a drug dealer. Students concerned about their education turn to these study drugs and unknowingly enter a world of risk. Colleges could play a part in getting rid of all illegal trade of stimulants. Medication has been turned into a drug and taken advantage of. Not only do drug dealers take advantage of the medicine, they also take advantage of the students. When students are unable to obtain of afford a prescription, they turn to these people and are forced to pay what they ask.
Not only do students unknowingly engage in criminal activity, they also take medical risks that can seriously affect their health. By unknowingly putting themselves at risk, students create another problem within itself. Combining unknown pills said to improve study habits can often make people sick. Dosage is frequently overlooked when study drugs are taken recreationally. The average user typically does not know the proper amount they should be taking, they take what is available. All of these dangers relate directly to the regulation and restrictions placed on such cognitive enhancers such as study drugs. By simply rethinking the policies in place there is an opportunity to use these drugs beneficially while eliminating the risk.
When a U.S. citizen turns 18, they gain rights such as voting and the ability to buy tobacco and lottery products. Why shouldn’t they also receive the ability to experiment with cognitive enhancers in the same way they experiment with cigarettes and gambling? All three of these can have negative outcomes for the new “adult”, but there is also a potential for success. Part of going to college is starting a new life living on your own. That is a choice that you get to make when you graduate high school. Taking stimulants to improve study habits should also be a choice students face when they make the change into college life. Why cant we make this inevitable decision that students will make in their college careers something that does not have such harsh consequences. With proper regulation, cognitive enhancers could be safely sold and used by students while increasing the safety on campuses. This would allow students without prescriptions to purchase these drugs in safe doses for their academic needs. By doing this it allows the students who do benefit from these drugs to use them to their advantage while staying safe and legal. By making these drugs a privilege gained at 18, it signifies a choice that you gain the right to make. It puts the responsibility on the user to make good choices when dealing with the product.
Many students do not realize that they potentially have some symptom of ADHD that could make taking stimulants beneficial to them. Between 2% and 29% of children and adolescents show some signs that qualify them to be diagnosed with ADHD (Monastra3.) By creating a safe dose for them to experiment with we are enabling them to the benefits the drugs have. It has been proven that such drugs work on patients. “Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and D-,L amphetamine(Adderall) significantly ameliorate the core ADHD symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in 75% to 95% or treated individuals(Solanto20). With undeniably positive results, why not make the option of treatment and success available to everyone.
Just like tobacco, alcohol and other harmful substances, a label would be presented on every drug purchased warning of the dangers. Doing this will take the “drug” label off cognitive enhancers and remind society that they are medication and should be taken carefully. Regular prescription ADD medication will still exist for patients who are diagnosed by their doctor. Personal treatment will not be affected. People who do not feel they need a prescription but would like to use such drugs may do so but must pay a fair price. By legally obtaining study drugs, students eliminate the need for “drug dealers” and the unnecessary pressure put on those with prescriptions for personal use.
Stimulants would be distributed through the student health centers that already exist on campus. A safe recreational dose for study purposes would be determined by experts and made available for purchase. Colleges could track and regulate the amount of drugs purchased by students through their student ID number. By allowing students the privilege of purchasing these drugs colleges must also require them to give up personal information for safety purposes. This ensures students get the proper amount for beneficial use and eliminates way to manipulate the system for abuse.
Typically money can make or break any idea. If there is an opportunity to make money someone will usually listen. Not only is there money to be made, there is money to be saved. The government can profit in two ways. By putting regulations and sales tax on cognitive enhancers they have an opportunity to make millions. Arguments like this could be support when proposing the idea to congress. Along with making money, the government could also save money. With the crime factor at a minimum, tax dollars are saved on trials of crimes related to study drugs. Creating an opportunity to save and make money makes this idea very reasonable solution. Not only would the government profit, the drug companies would also. By making these drugs more available to the public, the market expands greatly. Production would increase immensely and new product opportunities would be created when formulating a recreational dose. With an expanding customer base companies would have more sales opportunities and increase their earnings.
Abuse is one of the biggest issues with cognitive enhancers. By giving student the choice to use them at the age of 18, there will be more focus put on getting educated on what they are and how to properly use them. A better understanding of ways to identify and prevent abuse will create a greater knowledge of the drugs thereby making them safer. Exposing the truths behind study drugs will enlighten current abusers and also enable them to get help and manage their choices.
The steady rise of study drugs on college campuses is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately. If it is not there will continue to be a rise in misuse and criminal charges. By making cognitive enhancers easily available to adults the negative aspects of the college “study drug” will be eliminated and positive results such as potential profit opportunities will be created. This is the best solution possible because it presents so many benefits while managing to get the negative aspects of study drugs to a minimum. By making the proposed changes there is an opportunity to change lives. Current abusers can be educated and openly learn to use these drugs properly. Regular students can freely experiment with study drugs allowing them to understand how to use them beneficially. The illegal sales of these drugs will no longer exist getting rid of unnecessary crime and punishment. These are all reasons the issue of cognitive enhancers on college campuses need needs to be taken seriously. Once it has the required attention the issue can be properly addressed and this plan can be implemented.
Sources
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Solanto, Mary V., Amy Frances Torrance Arnsten, and F. Xavier. Castellanos. Stimulant Drugs and ADHD: Basic and Clinical Neuroscience. New York: Oxford UP, 2001. Print.
Trudeau, Michelle. "More Students Turning Illegally To 'Smart' Drugs : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. 5 Feb. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. 54163>.
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