In today’s world, the use of non-medical prescribed medicine has now become a catastrophic issue as it increasingly increases the use of the illicit drug among the college students. According to research, the use of medicine under the stimulant prescription for non-medical use has now become a clinical concern for the family health practitioners as well as all physicians. The study also revealed that most drugs are usually found colleges particularly in their pharmacological properties and used as stimulants. Mostly these drugs are used by students that are known to be struggling academically. This essay will elaborate on the use of Adderall and other prescription the college students and how school’s need to invest in how to prevent by applying various practices and policies.
The reduction of non-medical use of medicine needs requires great attention due to various factors such as the decreasing academic performance of students. There should be a simultaneous focus on the demand and supply side as well as the influential situations such as the health care professionals, school administrations, parents, teachers and the student at large. All the stakeholders mentioned have roles to reduce the use of non-medical medicine as stimulants. When this situation is taken from the policy perspective, the risk to the non-medical drug should also be observed keenly. This, therefore, proved the fact that it is difficult for the physician to give out the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder drugs when the medicine is known to be abused by the college students.
Most college students are usually exposed to the misuse of drugs as stimulants because of the development of the enticing myths. Mostly, the Anecdotal is one drug that is commonly used as a performance enhancer especially to students that struggle with intense academic pressure such as the final exams. The myth according to many media outlets has also acquired the name ‘smart medicine’ and ‘smart doping’ because if its popularity when it comes to stimulation especially by the best students
In America based on a study conducted discovered that approximately 2.5 million students used prescribed stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall for the treatment of ADHD. The condition is known as a brain disorder because the victim finds it difficult to increase their impulsive behavior and to concentrate. When this medicine is prescribed, it lowers the symptoms. However several people use the un-prescribed drugs for non-medical purposes especially students that purchase them from friends. The use of Adderall in this case or in other words the ‘study drug’ has existed for over two decades. This is because the Food and Drug Administration already proved that Adderall XR is a good stimulant medicine. Another factor that led to the use of this drug is because of the diagnosis of ADHD as well as the results offered. In fact, the manufacture of the prescription stimulants that has existed for over the past decade is known to multiply into millions.
The study also revealed that across the U.S more than 10,000 college students are either found with an ADHD drug or Adderall prescription that most of them bought them from friends and peers. A big percentage of the given number that abuses the drug gets them from classmates or friends that are diagnosed with ADHD. Three out of ten in this were found to abuse Adderall. In contrast, out of the 10,00- students, seven percent used the drugs because of their studies. Thirty-three percent were just introduced to the drug and they do not know the effects.
Recommendation 1
The state needs a better system to keep track of those using Adderall to make sure they aren't abusing it. Students who are prescribed Adderall manage to get them and their use are not tracked yet most states track when people by other the counter sinus medication. It is therefore essential to apply the policies that govern the diversion of prescribed medication. According to a study conducted it discovered that 62 percent of students with ADHD diverted their attention to Adderall with prescriptions. While a few of them knew that it was illegal to use them as stimulants, others are aware that it’s illegal to use the drugs without a prescription. The legal bright line is, therefore, an important factor that should be considered when it comes to a public warning because many students often ignore. Seldom in this policy, as discussed has become a reality because of the relationship between college students and the nonmedical prescribed stimulants. To solve this issue, students should be educated concerning the legal ramification of selling and sharing prescription drugs and the relation to the law.
Physicians and another health professional also have a role to play when it came to the reduction of the non-medical drugs by addressing the concerns of the diversion of the drugs without the knowledge of their parents. Turner23 and McLellan, in this case, articulated the need to change the practices of prescribing especially for the opiate medications. Their suggestions were that physicians should be careful when monitoring the overuse of opiates medication by reducing their prescription as well as the life-threatening consequences. Similarly, the development of the prescription analgesic also brought specific guidelines on how patients should be monitored, how to the ADHD medication and how screening is done for contraindication. The system also assists patients that need the information of the dangers of selling and sharing the prescribed drugs.
Physicians also need to be careful when giving the prescribed stimulants because it has now become a serious problem because of the sharing habits among the students.
