NONMEDICAL STIMULANT USE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS Chrissy Schopf

NONMEDICAL STIMULANT USE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS Chrissy Schopf

Prescription Stimulant Medication • Used to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) • Examples: Ritalin, Adderall

Reasons for Nonmedical Stimulant Use • Improving attention and concentration • Staying awake • Improving grades • Partying • Increasing social skills

Harmful Effects of Nonmedical Stimulant Use • • Addiction Adverse reactions Illegal consequences Drug interactions – Such as combining this drug with alcohol or any other substance http: //www. youtube. com /watch? v=-r. X 5 RXAH 1 qc

Ethical Discussion Questions • Is it fair to those students abiding by the law and not taking stimulants to improve academically? • Is this an informal way of cheating? • For distributors: Are they willing to be responsible for the adverse reactions that may occur on the user from taking this drug in a nonmedical way?

http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=j. Hs. Zmw. L 0 -Ms

Legal Discussion Questions • For the user: Are they willing risk the possible consequences imposed by the law and the university? • For the distributer: Are they willing to risk the consequences if something goes wrong with the person they gave this medication to or if they are caught?

Educational Issues • Unwillingness to talk about substance use • Does not recognize it as a problem • Becoming widespread and accepted by peers • Nonmedical users aren’t being monitored by a doctor • Unaware of the harmful side effects • Assume that because it’s a prescription drug it is not dangerous • Dangers in combining this drug with alcohol – Results could be very harmful, even fatal

Social Issues The more students talk about it, the more students will be curious enough to try it. • 61. 8% of college students offered stimulants for nonmedical use at least once by year 4 • 31% having used it at least once (Garneir-Dykstra et al, 2012)

Counselor Techniques Lowering factors: Strengthening factors: • Environmental stressors • Physical vulnerabilities • • • Coping skills Self- esteem Support Resources General life-styles (Coyne et al, 1994)

Counseling Implications of Future • Raising awareness and prevention • Educate students, parents and faculty • Workshops and information sessions • Mandatory educational programs for first-year students • Posters around campus • Counselors: – Awareness of their own feelings about the subject – Avoiding judgment towards students

References: Conye, R. K. , Wagner, D. I. , Hadley, T. D. , Piles, M. A. , Schorr-Owen, V. , & Enderly, M. T. (2001). Applying primary prevention precepts to campus substance abuse programs. Journal of Counseling & Develoment, 72, 603 -607. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. Dodge, T. , Marzell, M. , Williams, K. J. , & Turrisi, R. (2012). Judging cheaters: Is substance misuse viewed similarly in the athletic and academic domains. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26(3), 678 -682. http: //dx. doi. org/10. 1037/a 0027872 Garnier-Dykstra, L. M. , Caldeira, K. M. , Vincent, K. B. , O'Grady, K. E. , & Arria, A. M. (2012). Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants during college: Four-year trends in exposure opportunity, use, motives, and sources. Journal of American College Health, 60(3), 226 -234. http: //dx. doi. org/10. 1080/07448481. 2011. 589876 Hartung, C. M. , Cleveland, C. S. , Mignogna, M. J. , Correia, C. J. , Clapp, J. D. , Canu, W. H. , . . . Leffingwell, T. R. (2013). Stimulant medication use in college students: Comparison of appropriate users, misusers, and nonusers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(3), 832 -840. http: //dx. doi. org/10. 1037/a 0033822