Many college students choose to use stimulants to help them focus on their coursework or pull an all-nighter when studying for an important test or exam. These students may not be aware of the multitude of dangers they face when consuming a prescription medication that has not been prescribed to them.

Easy to Find

Prescription stimulants are relatively easy for the average college student to find. Many college students who are not prescribed the drugs simply buy the medications from friends or other sources, or may take to stealing the drugs. Since prescriptions for children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are on the rise, stimulant medications are more widely available.

The Effects of Stimulants

There are a few different classes of stimulant medications. Two of the most popular classes are amphetamines and metamphetamines. Both of these types of stimulants carry a high risk for addiction in people who abuse them. Chronic use of amphetamines in people who abuse them can result in psychosis and symptoms that are very similar to those experienced by people with schizophrenia. Additionally, students who take these medications can become irritable, anxious, depressed, and even aggressive.

Students who abuse metamphetamines also face serious side effects. They may also experience symptoms of psychosis. Most disturbingly, they may avoid sleep for anywhere from three to 15 days when chronically abusing these medications. Metamphetamines can be taken orally, injected, or snorted. Other side effects can include hypothermia and equally disturbing, formication. Formication is the feeling users may get of insects or other bugs crawling on or under their skin.

Students who are considering abusing prescription stimulants should be aware of the dangers of the abuse. While prescription stimulants can be perfectly safe and effective for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, they are not safe for people for whom they are not prescribed. Since the drugs affect brain chemistry, students who abuse them may suffer serious consequences. Risking these consequences is not worth the extra attention or ability to go without sleep that can be gained from the drug abuse.