Going to college may have been an event that both you and your child looked forward to for many years. You felt that he or she was ready to strike out and have new experiences while also getting a quality education. Of course, just as any parent would, you also worried about some of the temptations that college campuses can present, particularly when it comes to drugs.
While you may not have worried about your child trying hard or illegal substances like cocaine or heroin, you may still have worried that the pressures of school and social life could catch up to your child. The unfortunate reality is that many students partake in “study drugs” due to believing that certain substances will help them study longer and remain more focused.
What are study drugs?
Generally, the term “study drugs” refers to many prescription medications used to address attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These drugs have many names including Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin and Methylin. Generic versions of these drugs also exist. Though these prescriptions can often help individuals with ADHD obtain a better focus, people should only take them in the prescribed amount and with a doctor’s supervision.
What are the effects of study drugs?
The desired effects of study drugs that most non-prescription users hope to achieve relate to better focus. However, when students, or anyone, take these medications without a diagnosis and prescription from a medical doctor, they risk taking too much and suffering serious health effects. These medications could lead to heart attacks, stroke or even death. Taking these drugs unnecessarily could easily lead to emergency room visits.
Students can also become dependent on one of these drugs as they would need to take it each time they studied in order for it to have any significant effect on their ability to focus and retain more information than they would without the drug. Even after just a few doses, individuals could face withdrawal effects after stopping.
Are study drugs illegal?
While the prescription medications themselves are not necessarily illegal, they do fall into the category of a controlled substance. Therefore, if authorities catch your child with any of these ADHD medications without a proper prescription, he or she could face serious drug charges. If this has happened to your child, you undoubtedly want to do what you can to preserve his or her best interests. In order to learn more about possible defense options, you may wish to consult with an attorney.
