By Alok Ganguly
Public Relations

Students are under a lot of stress, due to academics, sports, and social needs. That’s why when a large test is on the calender, or a major paper is due soon, some tend to take medications like Adderall and Ritalin in order to stay up the night before to crank out a couple paragraphs, or to just keep their focus while studying for their exam. For those diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, these medications are beneficial, and are necessary to help the students stay focused. Other people who are not diagnosed with ADD or ADHD are actually at risk from the inappropriate consumption of these drugs.

Adderall is a good drug for those who have ADD or ADHD. Those diagnosed with the disorders have a lack of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Both of these chemicals are considered “pleasure” chemicals for the body. They are released when people are in love or just achieved a goal, and they make people happy. They cause an increase in energy, and a boost in motivation, which is why they are included in Adderall. When used by someone who has ADD cannot seem to focus on what they are studying, the chemicals will work together and provide motivation for the user to stay on task.

When Adderall or Ritalin are taken inappropriately by people who were not prescribed the drug by their doctor, there are both psychological and physical side affects that can harm the users. For more in depth coverage of the psychological effects of the drugs, click on this.

When Adderall enters the blood flow, it actually speeds up the heart rate of the user by releasing adrenaline, the same chemical that is released when the body needs to react in stressful situations. When adrenaline is released into the body, it causes the heart rate to increase, while also increasing the blood pressure. The body receives more blood than normal, and causes the user to feel rejuvenated, as if they regained all of their energy. This is what allows users to stay awake for a long duration of time, one of the primary reasons the drug is used when studying for tests or writing essays.

If abused, the user of Adderall may have cardiovascular problems, as the heart is constantly being overclocked. This also leads to increased blood pressure, and disrupted heart rhythm. In the long term, these side affects could lead to strokes, where blood no longer is pumped to the brain, causing some of the cells to die. This causes permanent damage to the brain.

Users can also have a reduced appetite after taking Adderall, and if used regularly, this can lead to massive weight loss, which is extremely unhealthy for the body. Weight loss leads to things such as a lack of social interaction, anger, depression, malnutrition, and a constant lack of energy. This weight loss can be nullified once the drug has stopped entering the body, so once a user is off the drug, they should gain weight normally.

Usually, Adderall is taken in pill form, and dissolves into the bloodstream of the body. Those who are more interested in the high that it provides actually tend to snort the drug, and take it incorrectly, which causes another set of problems. Just like cocaine, Adderall will cause respiratory problems if snorted, damaging the nasal and sinus cavities.  This will also damage the respiratory system in the body, primarily the lungs, making it difficult for the user to breathe, which in extreme cases, could be permanent damage.

Adderall is by no means a drug to be taken lightly. From a whole host of side effects like heart problems, weight loss, and having trouble breathing, there is another large group of psychological effects on the user. It is however, a good drug if taken appropriately by those for whom it is prescribed, as it provides motivation for those who find it difficult to stay on task, allowing them to focus on anything from academics to sports.

Sources:
http://drugabuse.com/library/the-effects-of-adderall-use/
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adrenaline
http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=stroke
http://www.livescience.com/41013-adderall.html
http://www.positscience.com/brain-resources/brain-facts-myths/brain-in-love