Prescription Drug Abuse Paper - 1740 Words

Marc Boubelik Engl 102 MWF 3:00pm Yuan Ding 26 March 2012 Abuse of Prescription Drugs in the U.S. Prescription drugs are the number-one drug problem that we face today, says David Rotenberg, executive director of the adolescent treatment center at the nonprofit Caron Foundation. They are more widely prescribed, more widely available, and more widely abused by adolescents than they have ever been before.(DiConsiglio, 1) Abuse of prescription drugs is one of the fastest growing problems for young adults in the U.S. today. It is a concerning problem because of prescription drug’s widespread availability and little known negative side effects. Prescription drugs are being abused by many young adults and college students. This research†¦show more content†¦College students diagnosed with ADHD are popular kids around any given campus. Most college students looking to score some Adderall usually obtain it through a friend or an acquaintance. Pills can range anywhere from 3 to 30 dollars a pill. Using Adderall is seen as a way to ge t an upper hand when it comes to academics. Students will pop a pill to study, take a test, and even for fun. In an age where procrastination is common, students will do anything to cut their learning curve of classroom curriculum and make up for poor time management. Students report that when taking prescription stimulants they feel an increase in alertness and concentration. Students also report weight loss as a (sometimes desired) side effect. In the article â€Å"Got Any Smart Pills?† authors Harry Jaffe and Alex Chip tell the story of a college student at Duke University named Kirk. Kirk was an average student who worked hard to get into Duke’s pre-medical program, but once he got there he found it hard to compete with the other students. Coupled with the party scene at the school, it’s no wonder his grades were sub-par. One day his frat brother picked up on his distress and offered him Adderall. Kirk had never popped a pill for academic or recreational pur poses, but after taking the drug and cramming 14 hours straight for a test with positive results, he made it a staple in his academic routine. His abuse slowly progressed as the semester went on. During finals week he took a total 200mg ofShow MoreRelatedPrevalence of Stimulant Abuse on College Campuses Essay1286 Words   |  6 PagesExamining the prevalence of stimulant misuse and abuse among college students is crucial to understand how widespread this growing problem is. Understanding the extent of stimulant misuse can lead to better education among college students about the dangers of illicit stimulant use and the potential risks and side effects. In studies done at the University of Michigan and the University of Rhode Island, it was found that many students had used prescription stimulants illegally at one point or anotherRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse Is A Serious Problem1547 Words   |  7 PagesLandgrebe Advanced Composition/4 21 December 2014 Research Paper Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem in today’s society. Prescription drug abuse is taking medicine prescribed for someone else, for another purpose, a larger dose than prescribed, in a different way than one is specifically prescribed. (â€Å"Prescription Medline† par. 1). This includes using a prescription to get high by crushing, snorting, or injecting them (â€Å"Prescription Medline† par. 4 and 5). By using these methods to put themRead MoreWhat Is The Total Economic Burden Of Prescription Opioid Abuse?1662 Words   |  7 Pages Week 6 Current Event Paper 2 Peadar F. 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