Student abuse of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication for study purposes is a trend that growing nationwide — and seemingly at Syracuse University, too.

A recent study conducted by the Canadian Medical Journal said that universities nationwide are reporting an increase in students’ abuse of ADHD medication for study purposes. Dessa Bergen-Cico, assistant professor of public health at SU, said she believes that the use of the prescription medication among SU students is no different.

Bergen-Cico said she has found an increased number of SU students are abusing prescription drugs for ADHD, such as Adderall and Ritalin.

‘I poll students about Adderall use every semester in my class about the dynamics of addiction,’ Bergen-Cico said. ‘This year about 60 percent of my students reported using it.’

Students are typically attracted to ADHD medication because it is a stimulant, which acts similarly to caffeine in creating a sense of focus that is useful for students who are trying to stay on task to study.

William Hamilton, a senior mechanical engineering major, said he is not surprised by the results of the Canadian Medical Journal’s study.

‘I think a lot of students are inclined to use it when they have big projects and have to study, especially around midterms and finals,’ he said.

Bergen-Cico said that the use of ADHD medication without a prescription is dangerous because students are not often aware of its proper dosage.

‘Like any other substance, ADHD medication can be addictive,’ Bergen-Cico said. ‘It can be a real strain on the body, especially if taken in large doses or combined with things like energy drinks, which students often do.’

Larry Lewandowski, professor of psychology, said one of the biggest problems with students’ use of the ADHD medication is the lack of medical supervision.

‘When people take drugs that are not prescribed for them, and thus not monitored, there may be issues of dosage levels, mixing with other meds or with other drugs like alcohol and, of course, the problems of a pre-existing health condition,’ Lewandowski said. ‘These are some of the reasons why it’s important for medications to be under medical control.’

SU has recently taken measures to try to decrease the use of ADHD medication by students who do not have a medical need for the medication, Lewandowski said.

‘Now SU has an assessment system in place to make proper diagnoses and treatment,’ Lewandowski said. ‘So I believe the numbers will go down. But students still find ways to get their hands on the medication.’

adhitzle@syr.edu

Published on October 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Alexandra: adhitzle@syr.edu | @LexieHitzler