Can a Prescription of Drugs Lead to Better Grades?

---

Get instant savings up to 75%
Download the Free PrescriptionDrugs.com Discount Drug Card

Print Card

Redeem for instant savings up to 75% on name brand
     & generic prescription drugs

Accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide

---

College Students Abusing Prescriptions: A Drug List for Better Brains?

An increasingly alarming trend is sweeping the nation's college and university campuses - The use and abuse of a prescription of drugs to boost brainpower. So called "smart drugs" such as Ritalin or Adderall which are usually prescribed for those suffering from ADD (attention deficit disorder) or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) increase focus, memory and overall cognitive performance, as well as battling fatigue, making these medications seemingly perfect for the last minute cram session. However, as we have all been warned, taking a prescription of drugs that was not meant for you is dangerous and illegal. Side effects of these drugs include high blood pressure, heart problems and addiction.

A Prescription of Drugs for Pressure

Professor Alan DeSantis of the University of Kentucky Communications department was driven into action when he overheard a number of students discussing use of the prescriptions. DeSantis was spurred to survey over 2,000 University of Kentucky undergrads and discovered alarming numbers:

• 34% readily admitted to using the drugs specified
• Approximately 50 - 60% of juniors and seniors abused these prescriptions
• Usage spiked to about 80% in the Greek community
• 4% of University undergrads have legal prescriptions on this drug list

The increase in usage among juniors and seniors and Greek community members is attributed to higher amounts of stress and pressure, especially as graduation looms closer.

As this type of abuse increases, universities face a new challenge, and new questions. What is leading these undergrads to abuse a prescription of drugs in order to keep up with classwork?