Adderall: Coming to a Campus Near You

Adderall: Coming to a Campus Near You
When used correctly Adderall is an excellent treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder and Narcolepsy.  However, on college campuses around the country this Schedule II drug is being used for non medical purposes.  Non medical use is defined as using a drug without a prescription in your name, or using a drug simply for the feeling it produces. Although drug abuse of any kind is most common during adolescence and young adulthood, the misuse of Adderall on college campuses is becoming an epidemic.
Full-time college students between the ages of 18-22 are twice as likely to abuse Adderall as their non-enrolled, or part-time, counterparts. It is most commonly abused as a study aid or a party drug, and ninety percent of these same students are also binge drinkers, and are more likely to be poly drug users.  A college student who abuses Adderall is also eight times more likely to abuse cocaine and tranquilizers.  The theory behind this is that Adderall produces physiological effects similar to cocaine, and the tranquilizers help to ease the withdrawal symptoms when coming down from the Adderall.
The demographics of Adderall are varied.  Males and females abuse the drug at equal rates, but those of the Caucasian race are more likely to abuse the drug than African-Americans, Asians, and Hispanics combined.  The demographics concerning family income are rather interesting.  The rates of abuse are highest among the lowest and highest income brackets.  This could be attributed to the fact that students from these families feel more pressure to succeed.  The lower income students are generally in college on scholarships and must maintain a certain GPA, and the higher income students tend to have familial expectations they feel they must meet.
How do we reduce this rampant abuse?  Should doctors be more prudent about prescribing, or should colleges put less pressure on their students to succeed?  Perhaps harsher penalties for those caught abusing would be effective? All that can be said with certainty is that college Adderall abuse is a dangerous problem that needs to be quickly remedied.
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Filed Under: Holistic Addiction Care Tagged With: , , ,

Recreation and Rehabilitation

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Recreation and Rehabilitation
Whether discussing smoking, drinking alcohol or drug abuse the cause is often the same. It often stems from either wanting to be accepted or trying to escape.  Teenagers frequently find themselves first wanting to belong.  They feel a strong need to identify with and be needed by a group. Many times it doesn’t matter what group.  They may try to be a part of the football team, basketball team or maybe even the band or orchestra.  If they don’t feel accepted they will seek that acceptance elsewhere. Unfortunately, those who tend toward substance abuse appear to be accepting of anyone and everyone.  It becomes easy for those who feel rejected to find a place with these types of groups.
As those who are seeking rehabilitation find themselves involved in recreation they often find avenues where they can express themselves and find success.  They feel acceptance and needed in ways which are not intimidating.  Often as they are involved on teams they  play important roles vital to the success of the team and they feel needed.  What may start as a recreational hobby may develop into useful skills or possibly even a career.  Recreation also helps create a new circle of friends to provide support when returning to society in general.
Physical Activity Brings Emotional Strength
Activities in recreation often involve physical exercise which many involved in substance abuse are sorely lacking.  As they participate, their body becomes more physically fit and their mind becomes more emotionally fit.  They learn to communicate better with others superficially which leads to more effective communication in more stressful situations.  Physical activities can also cause the release of endorphins which produce a natural “high.” This can help the patient find appropriate venues for “getting happy” or relieving stress.
Many rehabilitation facilities are recognizing and utilizing different types of recreation in their programming.  Physical activity is not the only type of recreation that is helpful.  Many types of board games or card games promote expression, cooperation and just plain fun.  There is great truth to the old adage “laughter is the best medicine.”
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Filed Under: Addiction Rehab Tagged With: , ,

How Pharmacies Can Enable Drug Addicts

Prescription drug abuse is not a myth, and as the pharmacy landscape continues to evolve, so does the resourcefulness of the addict. These days there is no question that it is easier to abuse prescription drugs than ever before. From the different scams that are available to the new drugs on the market that are available for testing by addicts, to concoctions like “Purple Drank” the practice of script abuse is alive and well.

The influx of pharmacies is a big factor in the rise in prescription medication abuse. Years ago there was just the local pharmacy and therefore it made it difficult for addicts to continue to try and manipulate the same location time and time again. However, times have changed. With virtually only a mile separating one pharmacy from the next and many owned by different companies it becomes easier to turn your drug habit into a well organized system. The idea is to simply never involve the insurance and there are drugs for the taking.

Insurance is always the roadblock for a drug addict. If an addict where to fill their vicodin at one pharmacy and have it billed to the insurance, the insurance would alert the pharmacy that they just paid a claim 2 days ago for a rather high quantity of Vicodin. This would put the addict in a difficult position to get a refill on their pain meds.

What addicts do is forego the insurance at one pharmacy and at another pharmacy they bill to insurance. The interesting part of this is that sometimes pharmacies offer a drug discount card that will allow addicts to save money and even when they attempt to early refill their medication at the same pharmacy, not only does the system not alert the staff that the medication is being filled early(because it’s not billed to insurance) but it will give them a price break on the medication.

The rise in pharmacies and the competitive nature of pharmacies nowadays is making it easier for drug addicts to support their habit and it’s saving them money too.

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Filed Under: Addiction Rehab Tagged With: , ,