Prescription Drug Abuse Hits Campuses Hard

Many campuses nationwide are taking prescription drug abuse seriously.

"Aderall, Ritalin, and other prescription drugs are being abused at an alarming rate," comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director of The Atlanta Recovery Center. "We have seen an increase in the past few years of college students seeking help for their prescription drug addiction.

"Unfortunately, the pressures of college life, the dangers of not getting good grades, and the ease of getting pharmaceutical drugs has increased the dangers of becoming drug addicted. Surveys reveal that students no longer take drugs to have fun, but take them in the hopes of easing depression or solving academic problems."

Colleges across the nation, from Rhode Island to Texas are advising students to be wary of prescription drug abuse.

The Catholic University of America warned: "All students should take a closer look at their friends, roommates and even that lonely guy sitting by himself in the back of the classroom. There is no stereotypical abuser of prescription drugs. It can be the girl who takes Adderall to give her energy boosts before finals. It can be that guy who goes missing during parties to crush and snort Vicodin. It can even be your roommate who secretly pops a Xanax with a drink while watching a movie."

Another college journalist interviewed a typical user who said, “I don’t know that many kids that have done coke, none that have tried crack, and only a few that have dropped acid. I can’t even count all of the ones who’ve taken Adderall.” (Stice)

An article in the Houston Chronicle confirmed that in a recent study, 23 percent of people say they have loaned their prescription medicine to someone else and 27 percent say they have borrowed someone else's prescription drugs.

"Adderall and Ritalin are prime examples of prescription drugs abused by college students," comments Ms. Rieser. "Ritalin's effects begin shortly after ingestion and last about three hours. At low doses, Ritalin increases alertness and focus, while blocking hunger and fatigue.

"However, side effects include increases in heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, insomnia, rapid or arrhythmic heart beat, dizziness, irritability, and headaches. More severe reactions include agitation, changes in appetite and sleep habits, weight loss, and facial tics. Overdose is possible, which makes this drug dangerous to abuse."

According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, in a recent study of nearly 50 million U.S. death certificates, more than 224,000 involved fatal medication errors, including overdoses and mixing prescription drugs with alcohol and street drugs.

“The term ‘addiction’ unfortunately brings to mind images of people buying illegal drugs on street corners, running from the law, ‘criminals’ hiding to use their drugs,” comments Ms. Rieser. “And unfortunately Hollywood has often portrayed addicts as outlaws and ‘bad people.’ This is of course untrue, but since Adderall and other prescription drugs can be obtained legally by doctor’s prescription, you may have a college student who would never think of breaking the law or the next-door-neighbor housewife, both in the same position: addicted to prescription drugs.

“And addiction, whether it is to a prescription medication or a street drug, is the same thing-addiction.”

For more information on drug addiction rehabilitation or drug education, call The Atlanta Recovery Center.