By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent
“I know there are certainly people who use that yeah. When I was in college we had the same thing,” said Princeton University graduate student Mahdi Yazdi.
They call it productivity in a pill. The misuse of prescription stimulants — like Adderall — among young adults is on the rise.
“I’m completely not surprised in any way and I did my undergrad at Oxford and my masters there and there was definitely a kind of culture about it there at undergrad,” said Princeton University graduate student Stephanie Pope.
Sixty percent of respondents to a Partnership for Drug-Free Kids survey reported misusing the drug. They cited reasons like managing busy lifestyles. That included studying and working, but also maintaining well rounded social lives.
“There’s definitely pressure and I can imagine that people would react to it,” Pope said.
“I think everyone is looking for an edge and a way to be able to improve their grades. And they believe that by abusing these drugs that they may have some abilities to study longer and harder,” said Partnership for Drug-Free New Jersey Executive Director Angelo M. Valente.
Students say you can typically buy the drug from someone who has a prescription and it’ll run you about $10 to $15 a pill.
“Addiction tends to be sneaky. It doesn’t come in one fell swoop and happen overnight. It happens gradually with use or misuse,” said Dan Meara.
Drug-free advocacy groups say it’s dangerous to take any prescription drug not intended for you, especially when mixed with alcohol — a practice commonly found in this age group.
“There will be a change in their body and brain chemistry that there will be a physical need developed for that drug, and that will also happen with Adderall. It might not happen as quickly, but it will happen,” Meara said.
As we visited the campus of Princeton University, many undergrads were surprised by the findings. Even though several studies have shown that rates are higher among students at ivy league institutions.
“If it is, then it’s something that people don’t talk about very often or don’t admit to,” said Nicholas Pang.
Students tell us they saw it more in their large and competitive high schools. And they see a different problem being overlooked.
“I don’t know anyone who does. I don’t use caffeine, but I know a lot of people who do. Yeah I feel like coffee is more of the go-to. Though our U store does sell caffeine pills which is kind of weird,” said students Nina and Zach Levine.
“What we’ve been hearing around the state of New Jersey, no matter where we go is that there’s a desperate need for treatment options for all types of addictions,” Valente said.
Which is why the advocacy groups are urging the legislature to pass a 21 bill package by Sen. Joe Vitale. It tackles the states heroin and prescription opiate abuse problem, but it also promotes more education and awareness for all prescription drug abuse, which they say has become a crisis.