Friday, September 21, 2007

Pill Popping

While researching sleep studies, I recently came across this article dealing with college students who regularly take Adderall. Adderall, which is a prescription drug given to people who suffer from ADHD, has stimulant effects on those who take it but do not have a hyperactive disorder.

The article interviews several students who attend Columbia University and discusses the Adderall culture that has developed there. It surprises me that at a school like Columbia, the use of Adderall has become something that is commonly recognized and accepted. Students attribute their high GPAs to their ability to study all night or write papers for hours because of their use of the drug. For about $5, students can score a pill from classmates who legitimately have prescriptions.

Reading the quotes in this article, it appears that no one seems to be concerned with discovering the if there are negative health impacts from taking the pills. The main point of the article seems to be more a question of morality, and if students who take Adderall are essentially "cheating" in order to keep their grades up.

See full article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/education/edlife/jacobs31.html?pagewanted=1&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FH%2FHandicapped&_r=1

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