College Students Beware: Taking “Study Drugs” Can Have Serious Consequences

Abuse of Adderall among college students predisposes them to the use of alcohol, cannabis, and other substances.
Taking “study drugs” like Adderall without a diagnosis is not only dangerous in itself, but can lead to other drug use and a decline in mental health, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications are frequently used illicitly by college students as a study aid, but it’s unknown what psychoactive substances are likely to be abused along with these drugs. To explore this issue, a team of Binghamton researchers led by Associate Professor of Health and Wellness Studies Lina Begdache, conducted a study of 702 undergraduate college students from across the U.S., asking about the most commonly used drugs used by students – including ADHD medications, cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, MDMA, and ecstasy – as well as questions on academic performance and physical and mental distress.