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Anyone else remember the episode of ‘Saved by the Bell’ when Jessie Spano becomes addicted to caffeine pills? “No time, no time! There’s never any time! I don’t have time to study, I’ll never get into Stanford…I’ll let everyone down, I’m so confused.”
Hilarious as that episode may seem now, the ever-popular NoDoz (a pill containing approximately 200 mg of caffeine, roughly the equivalent of one standard cup of coffee) has paved the way for a stronger, doctor-prescribed study buddy. Though it is not caffeine-based, most students who use it mistakenly assume it’s no more harmful than NoDoz, the triple-shot venti espresso they’ve been sipping, or the four-pack of Red Bull found in many a mini-fridge.
Now there’s Adderall and Adderall XR (Extended Release), drugs prescribed for children and adults with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) being abused for academic purposes. College students in the past five or ten years have probably either used it, seen their friends use it, or merely heard people talking about using it. One student estimated that at least 40 percent of students at his selective college pop the amphetamine-heavy stimulant that causes intense focus with abused dosages, especially when taken by a person who doesn’t suffer from ADHD.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration classifies Adderall as a Schedule II drug; the category also includes opium, cocaine and heroin, which means the penalties for possession without a prescription are pretty heavy. Despite the possibility of serious jail sentences, some students are willing to risk the consequences for all-nighters, especially at more competitive establishments.
