Studies Show Some College Students Rely on Nonprescription Drugs for Academic Sucess

As the number of diagnoses for legitimate cases of ADD and ADHD increases so does the number of college students using the drug Adderall without a prescription.

Adderall is a common drug prescribed for attention deficit disorders and is made of mixed salts and amphetamine. Amphetamines are stimulants used to treat various disorders where alertness and focus are needed the most.

Not to be confused with many other "street drugs," Adderall is most likely to be abused by highly-driven students.

In a 2004 People Magazine article titled, "Don't Try This At Home," Kyle Smith writes, "School counselors say motivated students are faking ADHD to get the pep-giving pills to help with their studies--while ignoring risks."

Researchers conducted a study in the northeastern United States to gauge exactly how prevalent Adderall abuse is in the college environment and what gain students hoped their drug-abuse would provide.

A staggering 77 percent of students in this study claimed to use Adderall "to stay awake to study" -- not for physical enjoyment, which is mostly associated with street drugs.

Students view the consumption of Adderall as no different from loading up on caffeine, but more effective.

Even though students don't pose many threatening attributes while on the drug, it is still a controlled substance and comes with its own set of side effects considered to be dangerous, even when prescribed by a doctor.

Adderall is listed as a Schedule II drug, which means, among other things, the drug has a high potential for abuse and may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Other drugs listed in the Schedule II category under the Controlled Substance Act include cocaine, morphine and oxycodone. The manufacturer of the medication, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, and doctors alike, say the drug has proven to be safe and in no way compares to cocaine or morphine.

The common use of the drug has garnered a social acceptance of its use as a study aid. But some see it as cheating, just as if a person were to take steroids in sports.