"I still didn't really know her [very well] at this point," a '13 male explains. "But I see her through the glass at Novack. Just as I'm waving, some kid [near her] snorts this big, fat, noisy line of Adderall right there on the table . awkward."
While every instance of Adderall abuse may not be as unabashedly obvious as said rando's facetime lines, it is undeniable that many Dartmouth students use and abuse medications prescribed to treat the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These drugs, most notably Adderall and Ritalin, are prescribed to "increase the ability to pay attention, stay focused and control behavior problems" in children and adults with ADHD, according to WebMD.
For students who aren't diagnosed with ADHD, the pills can offer a panacea to the overwhelming amount of work assigned during any given week.
"When it comes down to it what would I rather do stay up four nights in a row, trying to finish my obnoxiously long thesis, or take an Adderall at 6 a.m. and be done before meetings?" said a member of the Class of 2011.
Drugs like Adderall and Ritalin are not just used academically but recreationally as well. To some, they offer a welcome alternative to sipping Keystone in frat basements.
"I swear to god, [Ritalin is] like speed, but good for you," jokes an '11 female, as she uses her Dartmouth ID to form lines of Ritalin in an upstairs room of a Greek organization. "Trust me, three lines of this and you're up all night having fun and still awake for your 10A."
My friend from high school used to call my (entirely legal) Adderall prescription my "superhuman pills." Full disclosure: I have since been prescribed the lower dosage Vyvanse.
Vyvanse, like Adderall and Ritalin, is used to treat ADHD symptoms such as "inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity," according to the drug's official website. All three are classified as federally controlled substances, according to the Food and Drug Administration's website, because of their associated risks of abuse and dependence.
Additionally, many students view Adderall and its cousins as weight loss aids, analogous to Natalie Portman's "Black Swan" diet in pill form.
"I'm not ano[rexic], but I've literally lost 15 pounds in the two months since my doctor prescribed me this stuff," a '14 female professed. "And I work out harder. I've never been able to keep going on the elliptical like I can with the Vyvanse."
My high school friend felt the same way about my prescription.
"You're usually such a lazy sack of shit, Beau," she once commented. "But the days you're on Adderall, you're like what would happen if Regina George thought about having Einstein's kids only, let's face it, significantly less attractive."
Some Dartmouth students, however, are strongly opposed to their peers' casual abuse of such medications. Most students who said they do not use these medications do not agree with their illegal (or, in some cases, legal) use.
"It's like cheating," commented one student. "It makes addicts do better than those of us who are actually working."
Like it or not, drugs meant to address ADHD symptoms seem relatively easy to obtain on campus, even if you don't actually have a prescription, or ADHD in the first place. Whether you know someone with a prescription, buy from a dealer or google ADHD symptoms and go to Dick's House "prepared," you don't have to be a genius to get your hands on a few "superhuman pills."
Interestingly enough, no students expressed difficulty obtaining such substances.
The wide availability of drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin on campus seems to lessen the stigma associated with them. A '14 female, for example, said that she would never consider snorting the drugs, but said that, if faced with a never-ending paper, she would definitely think about taking one in pill form but only because it "really can't be that bad if a doctor gives it to you." Right?
Wrong. ADHD meds are potent, powerful drugs. Their long-term misuse has been shown to lead to lasting anxiety, paranoia, addiction, mania, psychosis, severe depression, heightened aggression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and even suicide, according to the FDA website. And while most students don't experience severe consequences from casual misuse, everyone is aware of these worst case scenarios.
"I don't do Adderall," explained an '11. "I don't have some sort of moral issue with it. It helps some people, I'm sure. It's just that my friend got a prescription sophomore Fall and he started taking it three times a day and just went crazy. Talking to him now is like talking to Dave Chappelle as that crackwhore [character]."
For better or for worse, study drugs are clearly prevalent on campus, a fact that's unlikely to change anytime soon. But remember you don't need superman pills to ace that midterm. A few hours in the 1902 Room should do the trick.
The students interviewed wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the article.
