It’s finals season, and doctors are reminding parents and students of the long-term dangers of taking Adderall and other prescription drugs to ‘help’ with finals. It could even be deadly if you take too much.
“What happens the next day when your body crashes from that unnecessary medication wearing off is you actually get a decrease in attentiveness and you’re more tired. So you can actually be doing more harm than good. Not only to your health or your legal status, if it’s breaking the rules or the law but also just bad grades,” says Dr. Ryan Lewis, CEO and emergency physician for Star ER.
Adderall is a stimulant that is prescribed to those who suffer from ADD and ADHD. It is prescribed based on tight diagnostic criteria by a physician. If you do not have these disorders and you’re just taking it to study without being prescribed, Dr. Lewis says it could have the opposite effect and it would really be no different than taking meth.
“Adderall is just a pill form of a methamphetamine-type substance. So, all the same type, addictive, qualities of any other stimulant that you see, you could also find with Adderall use,” says Lewis.
It’s a highly addictive substance, and the list of long-term effects of abuse include heart disease, depression or even hallucinations. Not only is it harmful to your body to take un-prescribed medicine, it’s also illegal.
Lewis said it is important to study the safe way.
“Get a good night’s rest the night before. Study all day long. Don’t study until late.” Lewis said.
If you do think you have a medical need for Adderall or any other medical issue, Lewis says to consult with your primary care physician.
