Forget No-Doz. Some Fairfield Students have found a new –and potentially abusive-way to pull all-nighters. Ritalin, a prescription drug, has become very popular among college students who need ‘help’ to keep them awake and focused while studying.
“I know a lot of students use Ritalin when they have to pull an all-nighter studying for a test or doing a paper,” said Lindsay Loderstedt, ’02. “It’s easy to get from other students who have a prescription for it.”
At dosages of 5, 10, or 20 milligrams per pill, students either take the pill by mouth or for a faster, stronger effect, crush the pill and snort it.
Ritalin has different street names, including R-Ball, Vitamin R, and the smart drug. It’s also been nicknamed “Diet Coke” because its effects are similar to cocaine’s.
“A lot of students take Ritalin to help them study, but some also do it just to get a buzz or a high,” said Dan Reid, ’02. “According to some people, it’s a cheaper version of cocaine-I guess that’s where it got the nickname ‘Diet Coke’.”
Some students feel the need to get the assistance of Ritalin to help them increase their attention and concentration levels under such academic pressures. Ritalin, the brand name for Methylphenidate, is a stimulant prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), characterized by concentration troubles and hyperactivity. Ritalin is also being used (without a prescription) by college students to help them stay awake, focused, and alert when doing work or studying.
“The problem with Ritalin is that anybody who takes it is going to concentrate better-it’s like a strong cup of coffee; it has this focusing effect on almost everyone,” said Dr. Norman Hoffman, director of Mental Services for students at McGill University in Montreal, in a story in Newsbriefs.
Students who obtain Ritalin illegally pay anywhere from $1 to $10 for one pill, according to Newsbriefs.
“Last year at the University of Miami where I went, I can think of about ten close friends who sold both Ritalin and another similar prescription drug called Aderol,” said Emily Goldner, ’04. “It was $5 per pill and everyone seemed to buy them. My roommate even quit her waitressing job because she was making so much money selling the pills.”
Since Ritalin is over-prescribed, students have easy access to the drug. “It’s easy and cheap to get because so many people in college have prescriptions for it,” said Chris Markt, a student at the University of Colorado-Boulder. “It’s very accessible to students who want it.”
According to the DEA, more than 1 in 30 Americans between the ages 5 and 20 have a prescription for Ritalin. Statistics further show that the production and consumption of this drug is only increasing with time.
“Ritalin is so over prescribed that it’s more available to abuse,” said William DeJong, executive director of the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse (“Newsbriefs”).
Like most drugs, Ritalin if used in excessive doses for a long period of time, can be addictive. With it’s numerous side effects such as nervousness, increased blood pressure and heart rate, headaches, and inability to sleep regularly, Ritalin can prove to be harmful, especially when used excessively.
“Many college students abuse Ritalin and can’t academically function without it,” said Elizabeth Hasten, ’02. “It’s not something people should depend on if they don’t have to.”
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