A growing number of students are abusing prescription ADHD medicines on college campuses. Students turn to the medicines so they can stay awake longer and increase their ability to focus. Many students wrongly believe stimulants will improve their ability to learn and get better grades. ADHD medicines are also being used to curb appetites for cosmetic weight loss or athletics. Some also use them to get high. But while these medicines are considered safe when taken as prescribed, they can cause health problems and addiction when not taken as they were intended.
Attention on ADHD medicines
ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This is a common childhood disorder that often lasts into adulthood. People with ADHD have problems paying attention. They also have trouble controlling behavior or hyperactivity. The medicines most often used to treat ADHD are stimulants. When taken as directed, they can reduce attention and behavior problems in those with the disorder. Two types of stimulant ADHD medicines are methylphenidate and amphetamines.
People who abuse stimulants may swallow pills. They may also snort or inject the contents. If these stimulants are misused, or taken by people who don’t have ADHD, they rev up the brain and body. They are known to temporarily increase the ability to focus. They also reduce the need for sleep. But there is no proof they increase grades or performance. Instead, abuse of stimulants can lead to a false sense of self-confidence and actually make academic performance worse.
Using these medicines in the wrong way can have bad results. Stimulants can drive up blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. At high doses, they can cause a stroke. With repeated use, stimulants can set in motion feelings of extreme anger and being overly suspicious and distrustful. Plus, lack of sleep and nutrition can lead to health problems.
If taken at doses or by methods other than those prescribed by a healthcare provider, stimulants can be addictive. People who abuse the medicines for a long period may have withdrawal symptoms like extreme tiredness, depression, and sleep problems when they stop.
Students don’t have to look far to find ADHD medicines. Most get them from a friend or family member who has a prescription.
Idadi kubwa ya wanafunzi wanaotumia dawa za ADHD kwenye vyuo vikuu Wanafunzi huanza kutumia dawa ili waweze kukaa macho kwa muda mrefu na kuongeza uwezo wao wa kukaza fikira. Wanafunzi wengi huamini kimakosa kwamba dawa za kuchochea zitaongeza uwezo wao wa kujifunza na kupata alama bora. Dawa za ADHD pia zinatumiwa kuzuia hamu ya kupoteza uzito au michezo ya michezo. Wengine pia huwatumia ili kupata kileo. Ingawa dawa hizo huonwa kuwa salama zinapochukuliwa kama ilivyoelezwa, zinaweza kusababisha matatizo ya afya na uraibu zinapochukuliwa kwa njia isiyofaa. Tiba ya ADHD ni kifupi cha ADHD (Ugonjwa wa Upungufu wa Umakini na Hyperactivity). Hii ni ugonjwa wa kawaida wa utotoni ambao mara nyingi huendelea hadi mtu mzima. Watu wenye ADHD wana matatizo ya kuzingatia. Pia wana matatizo ya kudhibiti tabia au mwenendo wa kupita kiasi. Dawa zinazotumiwa kwa kawaida kutibu ADHD ni dawa za kuchochea. Zikitumiwa kama inavyoelekezwa, zinaweza kupunguza matatizo ya kukaza fikira na ya tabia kwa wale walio na ugonjwa huo. Aina mbili za dawa za kuchochea ADHD ni methylphenidate na amphetamines. Watu wanaotumia dawa za kuchochea huenda wakala dawa. Pia wanaweza kunyonya au kuingiza ndani ya damu. Kama stimulants hizi ni kutumiwa vibaya, au kuchukuliwa na watu ambao hawana ADHD, wao rev up ubongo na mwili. Inajulikana kwamba kwa muda huongeza uwezo wa kukaza fikira. Pia hupunguza uhitaji wa usingizi. Lakini hakuna uthibitisho kwamba huongeza alama au utendaji. Badala yake, kutumia dawa za kulevya vibaya kunaweza kusababisha kujiona kuwa mtu wa uwongo na kwa kweli kufanya utendaji wa shule uwe mbaya zaidi. Kutumia dawa hizo kwa njia isiyofaa kunaweza kusababisha matokeo mabaya. Dawa za kuchochea zaweza kuongeza shinikizo la damu, mpigo wa moyo, na halijoto ya mwili. Kwa kiasi kikubwa, zinaweza kusababisha kiharusi. Kwa kutumia dawa hizo mara kwa mara, mtu anaweza kuwa na hasira kali sana na kuwa mwenye kutilia shaka kupita kiasi na kutowaamini wengine. Kwa kuongezea, kukosa usingizi na lishe kunaweza kusababisha matatizo ya afya. Vichavusha-moyo vinaweza kutokeza uraibu ikiwa vinatumiwa kwa kiasi au kwa njia nyingine isipokuwa zile zilizopendekezwa na mtoaji wa huduma ya afya. Watu wanaotumia dawa hizo kwa muda mrefu wanaweza kuwa na dalili za kuacha kutumia dawa hizo, kama vile uchovu mkubwa, kushuka moyo, na matatizo ya kulala wanapoacha. Wanafunzi hawana haja ya kuangalia mbali kupata dawa za ADHD. Wengi wao hupata dawa hizo kutoka kwa rafiki au mshiriki wa familia aliye na dawa.