Are The Benefits of Adderall Really Effective For Students and If So, Do The Pros Outweigh The Cons?

In today’s society, in order for one to embark on their dream career, it is paramount they first complete landmarks in their life. These landmarks include attending college consisting of four to five years of rigorous courses depending on their major. Secondly, applying for as many internships as possible, having a plan to pay off student debt, and working part-time during the semesters to support their family’s income. All of these small-objectives that are required of a student are plenty to handle in only a span of four to five years, and this does not take into consideration the circumstances of a student’s life which can act as additional stressors. With so many things to do in so little time, an ncbi article by Shaheen E. Lakhan & Annette Kirchgessner, states that the “misuse of stimulants by ADHD and nonaffected individuals has dramatically increased over recent years based on students’ misconceptions or simple lack of knowledge of associated risks.” (Lakhan and Kirchgessner, 2012, 661). 

In two ncbi articles that discuss the usage of Adderall and its overall effectiveness plus potential for abuse, both seem to agree that stimulants such as Adderall do appear to be effective for individuals, however, they also propose a significant risk for misuse, especially when the user takes it over an extended period of time. They both acknowledge and even push for further studies to be conducted to understand the toll stimulants can have on the human body. A third ncbi article takes a different aim at a narrower topic which is the effects of Adderall on the cardiovascular nature of the human body. This includes one of the side-effects Adderall can have on participants. Although this article focuses heavily on the effects of Adderall on the cardiovascular system, it still has a similar theme to it, where it promotes the need for future studies due to the limited amount carried out.

 In one ncbi article written by Lakhan and Kirchgessner, they take great notice of the fact that Adderall is effective in its intended pursuit, but with this comes along the high potential for misuse. The ncbi article states “Thus, the rumored effects of ‘smart drugs’ may be a false promise, as research suggests that stimulants are more effective at correcting deficits than “enhancing performance” (Lakhan and Kirchgessner, 2012, 672). This means that individuals who do not suffer from ADHD will see slim to no benefits from the intake of stimulants such as Adderall. In a study mentioned by Lakhan and Kirchgessner, it states that “Patients’ performance on a computerized neurocognitive screening battery was compared with untreated ADHD patients and normal controls.[…] Treated patients performed better than untreated patients but remained significantly impaired compared with normal subjects” (Lakhan and Kirchgessner, 2012, 666). This reveals the effectiveness of these stimulants, where ADHD students still could not perform on the level of individuals who are not afflicted with ADHD.

In the other ncbi article published by Steven M. Berman, Ronald Kuczenski, James T. McCracken, and Edythe D. London, these publishers agree with the conclusion Lakhan and Kirchgessner make, except they more profoundly push for additional studies to be performed in order to get a clearer understanding of stimulants such as Adderall. This means that they are not dismissing stimulants simply because of their negative side-effects, but instead want to find alternatives to reduce side-effects so that the pros may outweigh the cons. They also state, “neurobiological consequences of protracted amphetamine treatment must be rapidly transmitted to clinicians in order to facilitate safer use of amphetamines” (Berman, Kuczenski, McCracken, London, 2009, 20). This statement acknowledges how the potential for abuse is significant since they promote clinicians to be responsible for administering the stimulants due to their known side-effects if misused.

The last ncbi article published by A. Sinha, O. Lewis, R. Kumar, S. L. H. Yeruva, and B. H. Curry focuses heavily on the effects Adderall has on the cardiovascular system of adults. The ncbi article lists a variety of the negative implications stimulants can have on the heart where they state, “The proposed mechanisms by which stimulants may give rise to adverse cardiovascular events are (a) by elevating blood pressure (BP) and increasing the heart rate (HR),” (Sinha, Lewis, Kumar, Yeruva, Curry, 2016, 2). They feel with the variety of studies conducted on this topic and being limited which cannot establish a conclusive answer, the ability to ensure safety is underscored until further studies can be conducted. They claim “Prospective scientific investigations should include systemic cardiovascular monitoring in clinical trials, more extensive and prolonged cardiovascular studies,” (Sinha, Lewis, Kumar, Yeruva, Curry). 

Overall, the three ncbi studies mentioned share one common agreement, and that is the need for additional research. It’s not possible to have a definite answer in this case due to the need for more information. While further studies are being conducted, however, it would probably be in the best interest of individuals who may either be in college or above to only take stimulants such as Adderall if prescribed. Although the research suggests that stimulants are effective for enhancing focus to complete particular tasks, its effectiveness is simply not enough to outweigh the cons. As stated by the ncbi article by Shaheen E. Lakhan & Annette Kirchgessner, a study showed how even individuals who suffer from ADHD could not surpass the level of performance of an individual who is not afflicted with ADHD. For people who are not afflicted with ADHD see fewer benefits than those who are afflicted. Just because something is effective does not make it optimal, and when it is weighed against the potential for misuse along with the great variety of side-effects that come with it. It is probably best in terms of health for individuals who do not have ADHD to not indulge in the usage of Adderall.  

 

Work Cited

(Shaheen E. Lakhan & Annette Kirchgessner. Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation Los Angeles, California. Prescription stimulants in individuals with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: misuse, cognitive impact, and adverse effects, 2012.)

(Sinha, O. Lewis, R. Kumar, S. L. H. Yeruva, and B. H. Curry. Hindawi Publishing Corporation. Adult ADHD Medications and Their Cardiovascular Implications, 2016.)

(Steven M. Berman, Ronald Kuczenski, James T. McCracken, and Edythe D. London. Molecular psychiatry. Potential Adverse Effects of Amphetamine Treatment on Brain and Behavior: A Review, 2008.