More Students Pull All-Nighters, Start Abusing Adderall

According to a government report, more students are turning to Adderall and other prescription drugs to help them stay up all night and study.

The research showed that, in the past 6 years, there has been an uptick in the number of college students winding up in the emergency room after taking prescription stimulants like Adderall. Most of the students assumed, because the drug is prescribed for regular, low-dose use by people with ADD or ADHD, that it was safe.

However, Adderall and other prescription stimulants are technically amphetamines, which are related to illegal drugs like meth and ecstasy. Because of the prescription drugs’ chemical structures, it is easy to take too much.

“They often have fast heart rate or high blood pressure … dreaded thing you have to worry about is strokes, heart attacks … acute kidney failure,” said Dr. Frank LoVecchio, a toxicologist at Banner Good Samaritan Poison and Drug Information Center.

Signs that someone has consumed too much Adderall or other prescription stimulant are jittery or irritable behavior, sleeplessness, tremors, seizures, and even convulsions.

“We do know from a hospital experience that patients come in with complications with just taking one or two pills … the problem of course is, ‘I might get it from roommate but I’m half his size … hence I might have needed half the dose … and I get into trouble,” said LoVecchio.

LoVecchio adds that Adderall has not been proven to work on people without ADD or ADHD. Urban myth suggests that, because it is a stimulant, it can help students stay up later or concentrate a little better, but those claims are unfounded.

Prescription Drug Abuse Charges, Including Misuse of Adderall

Adderall is a combination of the stimulants amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It is commonly prescribed as part of a total treatment program to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For many patients, Adderall increases their ability to pay attention, stay focused, and control behavior problems.

Adderall is believed to work by restoring the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. The drug may also be used to treat certain sleeping disorders (narcolepsy).

Often referred to as smart pills or brain steroids, the drug is commonly misused by those seeking to gain a competitive advantage or to get ahead.

In South Carolina, there are laws which govern the obtainment, possession, and distribution of prescription drugs. These laws affect the general public as well as the doctor prescribing the medication. The abuse of prescription drugs whether to enable you to get ahead or keep up, deal with pain, or for profit, is considered a drug crime in South Carolina and can lead to serious consequences, including imprisonment as well as the loss of a professional license.

Common drugs targeted for prescription drug prosecution include:

• Painkillers including Hydrocodone, Lortab, Oxycodone, Percocet, and Oxycontin abuse
• Depressants such as Valium and Xanax
• Stimulants including Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine
• Opioids including Codeine, Morphine, and Opium
• Steroids including Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, and Equipoise, as well as Over-the-Counter drug abuse

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Charges of Prescription Drug Abuse

If you have received criminal drug abuse charges, or are suspected of abusing prescription drugs from Hydrocodone to Adderall, you are not automatically guilty, and you do not give up any of your rights. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help defend you. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Do not let criminal drug charges such as trafficking or possession ruin your reputation and career prospects. Contact us today. 803.252.4800.