Subs Research 3 Replies

Classmate Jasmine

This research paper will explore three articles addressing the NMU (non-medical use) of prescription stimulants such as: Methylphenidate (MPH) and Amphetamines (AMPH) or more commonly known as Ritalin and Adderall amongst college students and young adults. Faraone et al. (2020) [1]  state that in the U.S. alone methylphenidate and amphetamines prescriptions increased by 35.5 % between the years 2008 to 2012. Recently studies have been done around the world to assess the reasons for misuse of stimulants, how easy it is to obtain, and the percentage of users amongst genders. Furthermore, this paper will address the side effects of NMU or “Brain Doping”, has on the physical body and mental psyche of abusers.

           Keywords: NMU (non-medical use), Brain doping, CE (cognitive enhancement)

There have been numerous studies done on the NMU of prescription stimulants and the outcomes in todays society. With the growing public health problem Majori et al. (2017) [2]  suggest that the non-medical use of prescription stimulants has become of interest among university students, who abuse the substances to help cope with academic stress. The image below shows that 67% of college students abuse so called study drugs-which is also referred to as “Brain Doping”.

In this study it showed that females used prescription CE more for academic purposes and males would use stimulants to increase sports performance. Faraone et al. (2020) [3]  found reports from college students stating that obtaining stimulants is easy. Only in a few studies did the students claim having a “slightly difficult” time acquiring the medication necessary. With such ease in obtaining the drug, whether through an official diagnosis or by purchasing it from a friend etc. the misuse of prescription CE can have detrimental and long lasting effects on the body.

 

           In the image above we can see that out of the 53.2 million people who used an illicit drug in the past year, 5.1 million subjects used some form of an Rx Stimulant. A study was done to show how the use/misuse of stimulants effect an individual’s neuropsychological functioning. Wilens et al. (2017) [4]  found that in contrast to college aged stimulants misusers and their non-misusing peers; findings showed that there was significant neuropsychological dysfunction and clinical executive dysfunction. Subsequent of the conducting of many tests, all the authors noted similar symptoms in NMU patients such as: headaches, stomach aches, irritability, eating disorders, depression, sleeping difficulties, dizziness and anxiety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

 

Majori, S., Gazzani, D., Pilati, S., Paiano, J., Sannino, A., Ferrari, S., & Checchin, E. (2017). Brain doping: Stimulants use and misuse among a sample of italian college students. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 58(2), E130-E140.

 

Faraone, S. V., Rostain, A. L., Montano, C. B., Mason, O., Antshel, K. M., & Newcorn, J. H. (2020). Systematic review: Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants: Risk factors, outcomes, and risk reduction strategies. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(1), 100-112. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.012`

 

Wilens, T. E., Carrellas, N. W., Martelon, M., Yule, A. M., Fried, R., Anselmo, R., & McCabe, S. E. (2017). Neuropsychological functioning in college students who misuse prescription stimulants. The American Journal on Addictions, 26(4), 379-387. doi:10.1111/ajad.12551

[1]  Faraone, S. V., Rostain, A. L., Montano, C. B., Mason, O., Antshel, K. M., &

Newcorn, J. H. (2020). Systematic review: Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants: Risk factors, outcomes, and risk reduction strategies. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(1), 100-112. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.012`

 

[2]  Majori, S., Gazzani, D., Pilati, S., Paiano, J., Sannino, A., Ferrari, S., & Checchin, E.

 (2017). Brain doping: Stimulants use and misuse among a sample of Italian

 college students. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 58(2), E130-

 E140.

 

[3]  Faraone, S. V., Rostain, A. L., Montano, C. B., Mason, O., Antshel, K. M., & Newcorn, J. H. (2020). Systematic review: Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants: Risk factors, outcomes, and risk reduction strategies. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(1), 100-112. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.012`

 

[4]  Wilens, T. E., Carrellas, N. W., Martelon, M., Yule, A. M., Fried, R., Anselmo, R., & McCabe, S. E. (2017). Neuropsychological functioning in college students who misuse prescription stimulants. The American Journal on Addictions, 26(4), 379-387. doi:10.1111/ajad.12551