It’s no secret that educational coursework can place a heavy burden on students, leaving them with multiple assignments to accomplish and dozens of pages of information to read and digest. In an attempt to be more attentive to their work, young adults may look into getting a prescription for a certain medication that intends to provide better brain function and focus.

While these “focus medications” are relatively harmless when taken as prescribed, there is a big problem when they are abused or taken by someone without medical supervision.

The Problem with Study Drugs

Common Study Drugs

When young adults go to see their doctor about these medications, they may be prescribed drugs that are meant to improve cognitive function, such as:

• Adderall

• Ritalin

• Concerta

• Focalin

• Modafinil

How These Drugs Are Abused

As mentioned earlier, when these drugs are taken as prescribed, by the person they are prescribed to, they are relatively safe. However, a common issue that has grown over the years is that those without a prescription are getting or buying these medications from other young adults.

This means they could be putting their health at risk by taking the drugs in higher doses or much more frequently than what is deemed safe — and without being evaluated by a doctor, there is no way to properly know what drugs and what quantities are safe for them. Additionally, both the person offering the medications and those taking them without a prescription risk legal trouble.

In other cases, those with a prescription may also take their medication more often or in higher doses than recommended, putting their health and safety at risk.

The Side Effects of Study Drugs

If these drugs are taken without medical supervision, they can have serious mental and physical side effects such as:

• Anxiety or paranoia

• Insomnia

• Mood swings

• Liver failure

• Irregular heartbeat

• Increased blood pressure

• Seizures

They Don’t Help That Much

While students typically take these medications in order to stay focused and earn better grades, this often isn’t the result. There is no evidence that taking these drugs actually ensures better grades. In the end, especially when you consider the dangerous side effects, these medications can actually do more harm than good when taken improperly.

Address Young Adult Addiction in Pennsylvania

Silvermist Recovery Center inpatient drug rehab takes a two-phase approach to help young adults stabilize their addictive behaviors, understand the issues at the core of the addiction, and provide a clear path to lifelong recovery in adulthood.

It is time to break free from addiction. Contact our experts today (724) 268-4858.