Blog #1
Adderall is a drug prescribed to patients with ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is a disorder that makes it difficult for one to focus and also increases impulsive behavior in individuals. Adderall helps people with ADHD to stay calm and helps them to focus by stimulating the production of dopamine in the brain. Adderall abuse has become very common among college students in the United States. Since Adderall is a stimulant and used to treat people with ADHD, it has a few side effects if used as prescribed but if it is misused it can have many damaging effects which sometimes can lead to death. Many students who abuse Adderall think that it is just like caffeine and it is not that harmful. Most of these abusers are unaware of the negative effects it can on their mental and physical health. When Adderall is used in huge amounts, it can cause overdosing and even death. The abuse of the drug can also lead to appetite and weight loss. Soon, for users abusing it can cause them to have trouble sleeping, focusing, and often have a lack of motivation. They are even more likely to become depressed. In addition, abusing Adderall can lead to aggressive behavior, and thoughts or even attempting suicide. Moreover, abusing Adderall can have damaging long term effects including high blood pressure, stroke, fatigue, hallucinations, and heart disease. The danger of Adderall is present in those who have ADHD, but the scale of how dangerous it is for someone who does not need it is much worse. Drugs like Adderall should be taken seriously and not just for a “quick yet solution” for those in college trying to study.
Written by: Amina Cheema
Blog #2
Chris, a senior in high school, held the number one spot in his school. His mother was an avid alcohol and drug abuser, however his father was an average American dreamer. He worked a night shift and rarely had time to spend with his family. Chris, like his father, dreamed of a great education and a well paying job. That dream came true when he received a scholarship to NYU’s prestigious engineering program.
One semester in engineering proved to be one of Chris’s greatest challenges. Not only was his living situation with his parents worsening, he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. One night, Chris found himself in an inconvenient situation: a lab report due the following day for physics. In an attempt to get some advice, he visited the dorm of his friend. Chris did not realize that the only advice he would be leaving with that day was an adderall packaged in aluminum.
A few hours later, Chris was in his childhood bedroom, in a state of ecstacy. He found himself basking in a new sensation and along with that, a few moments of loneliness. Chris did finish his essay that night, but his life also took a turn for the worse. His adderall use quickly became a daily routine. Classes in the morning, adderall in the evening, and completing assignments in the late hours of the night. The most precious moments in his eyes became his greatest downfall.
He had lost 20 pounds that month and was constantly reminded of his mother, a drug addict refusing to get help. His reliance on adderall significantly increased. Chris found his brain unable to compensate for the lack of adderall and increased his dosage. He became depressed and could no longer concentrate in his classes. Ultimately, his life began to spiral out of control. A moment of self realization prompted Chris to get help and a period of withdrawal changed Chris’s life. After realizing he was addicted to adderall, he began attending treatment facilities. With the support of his friends, Chris is focused on overcoming his struggles and assisting his mother.
Written by: Cynthia Khan
Blog #3
Adderall is a highly addictive drug. Yes. You heard it correct, it is “Addictive.” Whether it is to study for an exam or to stay awake, Adderall is the drug many students turn to. Many students unknowingly become addicted to this drug. Addiction is a problem and it should be stopped. There are many signs of Adderall addiction and a few on them include-
- Not being able to concentrate without taking Adderall
- Keep using the drug despite knowing it is harmful
- Spending a lot of money buying the drug
- Wasting time looking and obtaining the drug
- Not being able to finish assignments without the drug
- Experiencing mood swings when not using the drug
- Needing larger doses to feel the drugs effect
Written by: Amina Cheema
Blog #4
Fatima is an 18 year old in her first semester of college. Her story begins in Mumbai, India’s largest city. Traveling abroad, Fatima made it to New York a few weeks before the start of college. With all college expenses paid by her parents, Fatima truly believed that college would be a great way to make her parents proud and prove to everyone that she was going to be successful. The first few weeks of college seemed to be the easiest. Towards the end of the semester, Fatima began to struggle.
In the midst of her college struggle, great memories of Mumbai were a constant reminder of a life she missed. Family dinners, parties on the weekend, and hanging out with friends was a life she had grown fond of. However, college did not allow it. When Fatima was finally invited to a party by a friend, she took the opportunity to create new memories similar to the ones she spent hours reminiscing about. That night was the night Fatima was introduced to adderall, a drug that would soon become her best friend.
With the struggle of college classes and her desire to be back in Mumbai, Fatima began taking adderall on a daily basis. It made her forget for a few hours. Forgetting was the best part because she rarely missed home anymore and was submitting assignments a few days before they were due. Studying long nights also became so much easier. Months had passed and Fatima was enjoying life. Her new home quickly became the college library with an adderall in one hand. She failed to realize that she could no longer survive without adderalls. Her anxiety had kicked in and she became very antisocial. While others could easily see what was going on in Fatima’s life, she was the only person who could turn her life around. Unfortunately, Fatima was in denial. She insisted that everything was fine. After many months, Fatima’s friend convinced her that she did have a problem and it encouraged Fatima to seek help.
Similar to Fatima, many adderall abusers are in denial. It is important to help these individuals acknowledge that they do have a problem and support their decisions to get help. If anyone you know is suffering from adderall addiction and abuse, please assist them with information about treatment facilities and substance abuse hotlines.
Written by: Cynthia Khan
Blog #5
Although taking a small dosage of Adderall to get that extra boost to finish a project or cram for tomorrow’s exam may seem innocent, it can actually lead towards an addiction. Yes Adderall is prescribed to ADHD patients who regularly take the medication and they don’t develop an addition. However, ADHD patients are thoroughly examined and given the proper dosage required for their specific needs. By continually taking Adderall at unprescribed dosages will increase the chances of addiction. Adderall addiction is caused by the body’s natural instinct to build a tolerance against the medication like other drugs such as meth or heroin. As your body builds a tolerance, you will be required to increase the dosage in order to achieve the same high or results. This high is achieved because Adderall increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels, like other drugs such as meth or heroin. Dopamine is a “feel good” chemical that our body secrete naturally which creates a rewarding effect in the person’s brain that causes them to keep seeking this reward. Norepinephrine is a chemical that helps the body focus on one specific thing regardless of what occurs in the user’s background. Due to these chemicals, when the user is going through Adderall withdrawals they will often feel tired, mentally foggy, and even show signs of depression.
If you feel helpless and see no hope in battling against this addiction you are wrong. Fortunately, Adderall addiction can be fought using similar methods as other addictions. The first step to battling any addiction is recognizing that there is a problem in the first place. This can be easily done by not taking your regular dose of Adderall and seeing if you go through any withdrawals or by self examining how your characteristics have changed before and after using this drug. The next step is visiting an addiction center to find a customized plan to battle your addiction. Thankfully, there are hundreds of addiction centers around NYC all of which you can go in anonymously and there are also places that take all insurance or even places that don’t require an insurance at all.If you see someone who is also struggling from addiction it is also important to be there with the person in case of any overdoses and help them seek medical help at an addiction center. It is never too late to be a better version of yourself!
Written By: David Martinez
Blog #6
The most common medication to treat ADHD patients is Adderall. Research has determined that Adderall is the most fast acting method of treating ADHD patients with the fastest results when compared to other options such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Adderall is a prescription medication that contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These are stimulants that increase the dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the patients central nervous system. The most common side effect of Adderall is how well the patient is able to focus on one task regardless of what environment the patient is in. This is due to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is the main neurotransmitter that increases awareness in a person so that they can pay attention and focus one one specific thing in their environment. It is naturally produced by the body and acts as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone due to it being synthesized by dopamine. Another important neurotransmitter that is impacted by ADHD is serotonin. Serotonin is also a naturally produced chemical that affects mood, social behavior, sleep and memory. This explains why ADHD patients will see changes in their behavior and mod while taking Adderall. Low levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, which is often found in ADHD patients,makes it harder to focus. Prescribing Adderall in the right dosage which varies each patient to achieve the desired results changes the balance to create the normal equilibrium found in people without ADHD. However, taking unprescribed Adderall can change this equilibrium and reach undesired side effects such as addiction which can potentially lead to death. Adderall can be a safe treatment option, although there are other options with less side effects, but only if it is used correctly. Please consult a doctor before taking Adderall to see if it is right for you.
Written by: David Martinez
