Ignoring problem won’t make it go away

The first time I heard about students taking Adderall, I thought it was a great idea. I mean come on, what student wouldn’t want to spend two hours instead of five on homework and studying, and actually enjoy doing it? Though I have never taken the drug myself, the name was buzzing around Austin High School due to the suspensions of several students caught using it during the last month of school.

Adderall is an amphetamine primarily used to treat ADHD and is illegal to use without a prescription. The drug raises the user’s heart rate and the amount of blood flow to muscles, keeping them focused and on task. However, it’s other claim to fame is the amount of abuse it receives from students. Some students use it to make school seem more enjoyable, while others believe it just helps their memory and concentration. No matter what it’s used for, it’s impacting high school and college campuses around the U.S. and causing trouble here in Austin.

During the past month, several busts were made because of students possessing the drug at school. Before this, I didn’t realize how widespread the use of Adderall was. But considering the pressure students are under these days to be perfect, it makes sense. The high expectations from parents, teachers, coaches, etc. to exceed can overwhelm teenagers, which is one reason they turn to the “study drug.” Though some students may not admit it, we often feel the need to excel at anything we do. We feel like we have to take AP and honors classes. We feel like we have to play varsity sports and be involved in our school clubs. We feel like we have to fill our free time with activities that will look good on college applications. But who has time for all of that?

Spending hours and hours a night on tedious studying and homework after a long day is exhausting, and students aren’t interested in staying up all night to finish their daily tasks. Adderall is seen as a simple solution to time management issues and procrastination, but I don’t think students realize the real dangers with it. To students, it’s just some miracle pill that makes endless piles of homework disappear quickly, not a punishable felony.

Health classes should focus on common substances that high schoolers would use and shift some focus away from harder drugs. Before this year, I had heard Adderall mentioned once or twice. But with a simple Google search, I learned that the drug has been commonly abused for many years now. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2013, 7.4 percent of seniors nationwide took Adderall unprescribed. That same survey states it’s the No. 1 most abused pharmaceutical drug, and third most abused drug overall.

Ignoring this problem won’t make it go away. When the gossip about Adderall was at its peak, I kept expecting to be called into an assembly to discuss the matter, but it never happened. I think as a school, we should’ve approached the issue head-on, and not waited for it to go away.

I’m not supporting the actions of those who choose to use the substance, but I can understand why. The stress of finals week and last minute homework could overwhelm even the most organized and non-procrastinating student. The pressure that teens feel can drive them to make irrational decisions just so they can get an A on a test. School issues like these should not be ignored, however. Students need to be informed about the dangers of more common drugs and realize popping pills isn’t the best solution for making the grade.