Performance Enhancing Drugs in the Classroom? Students Use ADHD Medication for Tests

Adderall, Riddlin, Vyvanse, Concerta. These are all drugs prescribed to patients with ADD or ADHD to treat their disorder, but their use has spread beyond practical treatment and students are obtaining them illegally to perform better in school.

Yes, we knew this was an issue, as reports surfaced of this being an issue in colleges and universities throughout the U.S. But it's been long argued whether or not misusing ADHD and ADD medication is considered cheating. Well, according to Ivy League students, it's pretty divided.

A recent study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada, found that 41% of students at an unnamed Ivy League university said that taking such medicated to write an essay, study, or take a test is considered cheating. 33% did not consider it cheating, which is understandable since it's estimated that 20% of Ivy Leaguers (and most likely college students nationwide) misuse the stimulant medications to perform better in school. 25% of the students were undecided on the issue.

Obviously, those who misuse the drugs obtain them from those with ADD or ADHD who are prescribed the medication. They typically are sold at prices ranging from $5 to $15. They help students focus for longer periods of time, which is essential during finals week, where college students are spending hours upon hours cramming all of their work and studying in the library.

Although it is illegal to purchase a prescription drug in the fashion that these stimulants are on campuses, one-third of students surveyed in the study do not believe taking the drug to aid performance is cheating. Perhaps "illegal" and "cheating" do have two different definitions. But some schools have already considered it cheating, as Duke University explicitly states in its honor code that these stimulants are forbidden if they're not obtained through a prescription.

The study, presented on Saturday, informs about misuse of the drugs and what can happen as a result: they might not aid performance for certain people; they can be addictive; they can be harmful if combined with alcohol consumption or other drugs; and they can affect the brain's natural release of dopamine.

"It is our hope that this study will increase greater awareness and prompt broader discussion about misuse of medications like Ritalin or Adderall for academic purposes," said Natalie Colaneri, lead investigator and research assistant at Cohen Children's Medical Center, in this CBS News article.

You can read more about the study in this USA Today article.