Noah has two papers to finish, three exams to study for, and a handful of college
applications to fill out — all due in the next week. It's a lot of work, and
Noah feels like he needs help concentrating and staying focused on the tasks.
Noah's brother takes ADHD medicine, and Noah has heard people call this kind of
med a "study drug." He knows it's against the law to take medicines that weren't prescribed
for him. Still, Noah wonders if study drugs could be the help he's looking for just
to get through this one week.
What Are Study Drugs?
Doctors prescribe medicines like Adderall
and Ritalin to treat conditions like attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sometimes, people who don't have these
conditions take other people's medicines because they think they'll help them focus
while doing schoolwork. That's how these medicines got the name "study drugs."
Study drugs are stimulants. They can increase alertness, energy, heart rate, breathing
rate, and blood pressure for a short time. Study drugs don't actually increase learning
or thinking ability, though.
Two prescription stimulants are used as study drugs:
- amphetamines like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Vyvanse
- methylphenidates like Ritalin or Concerta
Most people get study drugs from a friend or relative who has a prescription. Sometimes,
those with prescriptions don't know who took their medicine — they discover
it's missing when they try to renew their prescription and find out they can't. Pharmacies
keep a count of each dose and won't renew a prescription if someone should
still have some left.
How Do Study Drugs Affect the Brain?
Nerve cells in the brain send messages back and forth by releasing chemicals called
neurotransmitters. Prescription stimulants have chemical structures that are similar
to some neurotransmitters. When someone takes them, the drugs boost the effects of
those neurotransmitters in the brain and body. This can lead to pumped-up brain activity,
including increased focus and concentration.
The feel-good period only lasts a few hours. After the effects wear off, people
can crash. They might feel sluggish, disconnected, or even depressed. They also might
be disappointed when they look back at the work they did while taking the drugs.