ADDERALL ABUSE RESEARCH

A dynamic look into valid research and different points of view of Adderall abuse.

BRAIN WITH ADDERALL ON LEFT (RED IS BRAIN ACTIVITY)

ADDERALL ABUSE BACKGROUND

There is a rapidly growing controversy over the illegal abuse of the prescription drug Adderall and other generic forms of this drug by college students. Adderall is composed of dextroamphetamine saccharate, dextroamphetamine sulfate, aspartate, and sulfate. These ingredients aid in the increase of extracellular levels of the biogenic amines dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. In other words, Adderall is taken to help people stay focused and alert. This drug is prescribed to people who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This drug is very beneficial if used correctly by a prescribed person, but many college students that are not prescribed to it use Adderall for the wrong reasons, according to the Coalition against drug abuse.

POP AN ADDY

HOW DOES ADDERALL ABUSE START?

Adderall abuse starts when it is taken for reasons other than for medical purposes. The NSUDH reported in 2006-2007 that fulltime students ages eighteen to twenty-two were two times more likely to use Adderall for recreational purposes than people the same age who were not fulltime students. Youth suffering from Adderall abuse are subject to extremely harmful side effects. The majority of people who take Adderall that are not prescribed to it start taking it because they think that it will help them be more focused or that it will give them more energy to do school work. Some people are aware that side effects include a loss of appetite; they wont be hungry when they take Adderall so its purpose is then weight control. After people experience the effects of Adderall they may begin to like what it does to their body, causing them to want to take it more. This leads to addiction.

EXTREMELY POWERFUL

KEY POINTS, FACTS, AND OPINIONS

-Journal Of Medical Internet Research This journal is documentation of a study conducted on twitter from November 2011- May 2012. Any tweets containing the word Adderall were monitored for information about side affects and GPS tracking was used to collect data on the locations of the tweeters. Adderall tweets were at their highest peak around finals time in colleges. This studys purpose was to show how Adderall is used as a study aid among college students.
-Maryland Drug Early Warning System This study monitored drug trends of college students. They surveyed a panel of students about which drugs were easiest to obtain and hardest obtain. The students also shared information about what they though was most widely used. The drugs included alcohol, marijuana, and Adderall.

ADDERALL IN THE MORNING WITH BREAKFAST

VALIDITY AND CREDIBILITY

Both the Journal Of Medical Internet Research and the Maryland Drug Early Warning System are valid and credible sources. The research done by these sources was done by qualified individuals in the study of Adderall Abuse. Both of the studies are relevant to the topic of Adderall abuse. The arguments and research shown in these two sources are persuasive and accurate. They are very organized and convey a clear message. The second source, however, was based off of a survey so depending on a few factors it could be biased.

RELATIONSHIPS AND AUDIENCES

The sources I looked at for further research on my topic are addressing a broad audience. The information about this subject affects people of all ages. College students, professors, parents, families, doctors, and drug companies. It is a growing problem in todays colleges which has an effect on many people in different college communities. These studies were done specifically pertaining to the issue of Adderall abuse so they align directly with the topic.

DRUG DEALING

NEW IDEAS AND QUESTIONS

Has anyone looked at which specific groups of people in college are abusing Adderall across the board? Has anyone researched the correlation between greek life and Adderall abuse? How are drug companies trying to help the problem? Have there been cases of death over Adderall Abuse? What makes Adderall addictive? Does this bad habit continue on after college?

CITATIONS

"Adderall Abuse Symptoms, Signs and Addiction Treatment." Adderall Abuse Symptoms, Signs and Addiction Treatment . Coalition Against Drug Abuse, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013.
Dews Investigates: New Student Drug Research (sdr) Survey Examines Prescription Stimulant Misuse Among College Students . United States, 2005. Print. Hanson, CL, SH Burton, C Giraud-Carrier, JH West, MD Barnes, and B Hansen. "Tweaking and Tweeting: Exploring Twitter for Nonmedical Use of a Psychostimulant Drug (adderall) Among College Students." Journal of Medical Internet Research . 15.4 (2013). Print.