News article: September 17, 2005
Title: ADHD Drugs on College Campuses.

    This article highlights essential questions about drug abuse by tracking emerging drug use and trends on college campuses. One question might be, why are Adderall or Ritalin being used on our college campuses and, how easy is it to get these prescriptions?

     These two drugs give people the energy they think they need in order to keep up with their studies and extracurricular activities. Students study and work by taking these ADHD medications.

They feel like they can do school work and still have energy to do other activities. Do we really understand what people experience when taking drugs?   

    This is a problem facing our society; we appear like normal citizens but really we are over worked, under paid, and trying to get ahead in our accomplishments. As a result we sometimes turn to drugs; they make us feel good and give us that extra energy needed to do one more thing. Before we realize it, our life becomes out of control and we can no longer handle life with or without drugs. This is the sad state of addiction.

    Prescription drugs are becoming a medical condition for addiction. People feel justified by saying, “the doctor gave them to me” or “I feel sick so I need these drugs.” Medications such as Adderall and Ritalin often seem safer that illicit drugs, but are they? Students say things such as ,“you don’t need someone to do a line with you, and it’s not social like marijuana.” The problem is that those who need the medication get harassed by others wanting to get high or pass that final exam. Sometimes they want to sell the drugs for money to help off set the cost of being a student. Either way, it is illegal to do these things.

    Many students believe that these medications help them focus better and study longer. Abuse of prescription drugs among students is on the rise making this a growing problem. Colleges and students need to know what the underlying motives of these drugs are. They need to be made aware that prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs .This article helps shed some light on the truth about prescription drugs.
     
More on this story can be found at:

http://kutv.com/health/health_story_201225