'IT'LL JUST HELP ME FOCUS'

Recreational Use Of Prescription Drugs Is Widespread And Dangerous

Rush Limbaugh's recent admission of an addiction to prescription drugs is
only one of many examples in which celebrities have abused drugs that were
initially meant to help them. This epidemic is not unique to the famous,
however: it has existed at Tufts, as well as many other college campuses,
for quite some time.

Ritalin and Adderall are two of the most commonly abused prescription drugs
on campus. Initially developed to treat attention deficit disorder, these
"study drugs" have become an inexpensive way for students without attention
problems to focus before a big test, or to get a high close to that of
cocaine at a fraction of the price. By "bumping," or snorting, these pills,
users can often reach a modest level of euphoria without the fear attached
to more illicit drugs.

"I've used study drugs before for finals, but it isn't something that I do
often at all," said Frank, a Tufts student who wished to remain anonymous.
"I'll use some prescription pain killers maybe once a semester, but it is
not something I actively seek to do."

"I would say 'study drugs' like Ritalin and Adderall are used fairly
frequently, especially around finals time," Frank said. "Muscle relaxants
and pain killer use, I think, is much less prevalent than study drugs."

These pills do not always come cheap. "Adderall and Ritalin go from $2 to
$5," Frank said. "Percocets and Vicodin are like $3 to $5 each depending
upon how big the pill is. Oxys [Oxycontin pills] I would say are about $10."

Obtaining the pills is not difficult. One junior who has an attention
problem has been prescribed Ritalin for two years. "If a friend needs it,
I'll give it to them," she said. "If they think it helps them, I feel like
at this point so many people are prescribed it who shouldn't be."

The student believes that the problem partially stems from the distribution
of prescriptions to students. "When I was prescribed it, I went in and they
said, 'Here's a trial amount; tell me what the effect is,'" she recalled.

As a result, she said it was easy to get pills frequently and use half of
them while selling or giving away the rest.

Frank's reasons for using "study drugs" are not unique. "I used them to stay
up and cram for exams when I was nervous about them," he said. "The other
pills were just purely for recreational use."

Dr. Margaret Higham, medical director of Health Services, is not surprised.
"I absolutely know that students abuse [them], both to study for tests
and...it's like being high," Higham said.

"People like that it speeds you up," Higham continued. "For some people, it
speeds up their energy and makes them feel manic."

That manic energy could sound appealing to some, but it is dangerous.
"[These drugs] override the body's sense of tiredness," Higham said. "People
can go all night and all next day" and can ultimately loose out on several
nights' sleep.

According to Higham, one of the side effects of abusing study drugs is a
stimulated metabolism, which overworks the heart and increases blood
pressure. "It could precipitate a heart attack," Higham said.

In addition, the intended high can induce the opposite effect on some
people. "[These individuals] actually feel pretty bad: moody, depressed,
crying, anxious, stomach ache, can't concentrate," Higham said.

One Tulane student who wished to remain anonymous explained how she took
Adderall before a final she was worried about finishing on time, and did
poorly as a result of the drug.

"We didn't start the test right away and during the period that we were
waiting for the teacher to arrive, I became really jittery and couldn't
concentrate at all once we started the test," Erika said. "I messed up
problems that I'd seen before and ended up doing poorly on the test as a
result."

When combined with other pills, Ritalin and Adderall become even more
dangerous. Almost a year ago, a student at Boston University who had been
taking a diet pill took Adderall to study for a test the next day. The two
pills combined overwhelmed her heart, and she entered a coma while sleeping,
from which she has yet to wake.

Her friend, BU junior Lauren Buchman, is still dealing with the grief that
has come from her friend's collapse and subsequently vegetative state. "I
didn't even know that she was taking either of the pills," Buchman said. "By
the time the paramedics came she had lost so much oxygen that, even if she
does ever wake up, she'll suffer from severe brain damage."

It makes sense that this combination would result in a negative outcome,
Higham said. "Any of the medications that are also in the stimulant category
can combine to make the side effects that much worse," she said.

The University seeks to help students deal with this issue, which is far
more difficult to crack down on than illegal drug use.

Liz Moore, the University's substance abuse specialist, says that Health
Services has appointed a new Director of Drug and Alcohol Education
Services, Margot Abels. Abels' appointment means that there are more hours
and people to do research on such abuse, which could help the school with
its understanding.

At the same time, Moore is aware of the reasons students abuse these drugs.
"It's hard in college," Moore said. "People feel a lot of pressure,"
especially at faster-paced schools such as Tufts where there is higher
competition.

But Frank is skeptical of the University's efforts. "I don't think the
school can do anything to stop the usage because those people who seek drugs
to study are going to do so for its perceived advantages anyway," he said.

Some students reject the trend because it simply has no appeal to them.
"People end up abusing [study drugs] and taking them to stop their
procrastination," junior Alicia Faneuil said. "Instead they need to work on
their studying skills, like not sitting next to friends in the library, not
listening to music when studying, starting their work earlier than the day
things are due. It's a culmination of many work and study habits."

If students taking Ritalin or Adderall illegally would like to receive help,
they may contact Liz Moore at extension 7-4595. In addition, students may
anonymously call Moore or a local pharmacy to find out if drugs they are
taking will react dangerously with one another.