When kids are diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – as they are in increasing numbers every year – they are often given medication to help them manage the symptoms. In childhood, these medications serve to help patients gain control of their impulses, slowing down long enough to be able to focus in school and think before they react. For many kids, these medications change their lives, but over time, as body chemistry changes, the medications may no longer be effective choices.

During the teen years, many kids find that the drugs begin to have a different effect: a stimulant, intense focus that can last for hours upon hours without interruption, cutting out the need for food or sleep. Many kids feel high when they take the drugs and find them useful in assisting them in completing large projects, studying for exams or otherwise keeping up with the many demands that the college-bound student finds placed upon his or her schedule.

In short, these so-called “study drugs” are often sold by kids who have a prescription to kids who seem like the least likely candidates for drug abuse.

It’s a problem that has led to a wide range of issues including:

  • Addiction
  • Increased mental health symptoms like agitation and anxiety
  • Erratic behavior
  • Psychosis
  • Suicide attempts

No Quick Fix

Partnership at Drugfree.org reports that the drugs touted as “pills to boost the brain” in fact ultimately do the opposite. Kids who hope to find a quick fix for the problem that ails us all – finding it difficult to fit everything we want into a 24-hour period – ultimately end up finding a gateway into a private hell that is far more difficult to escape than the pressure associated with college admissions.

It’s a problem for adults as well. Having started abusing the drugs during high school or college, many take them into the high-pressure workplace, using them to successfully manage multiple projects, keep up with the demands of entry-level positions, and stay fit while working 60- to 80-hour workweeks. The end result? An eventual crash that can be deadly.

Don’t Ignore the Problem

Research shows that study drugs do not work for anyone in the long-term. Kids who abuse the drugs are more likely to skip classes, drink heavily, abuse marijuana and have lower grades than their peers who don’t use study drugs. Adults who attempt to use the drugs to maintain an unmanageable pace ultimately end up missing work, missing project deadlines, struggling with chronic physical health problems and mental health issues, and requiring treatment.

If someone you love is abusing drugs like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin and others, don’t wait to get them the help they need to stop. Contact us at Black Bear Lodge today.

Articles posted here are primarily educational and may not directly reflect the offerings at Black Bear Lodge. For more specific information on programs at Black Bear Lodge, contact us today.