How to Pull an All-Nighter For Your Exam: The Right Way

How to Pull an All-Nighter For Your Exam: The Right Way

Abstract 

            If we are all being honest with ourselves, it is not exactly top secret that when you are in college, drugs in many forms are not impossible, or even difficult to obtain.  That being said, in no way should you ever run out in the streets of your campus hollering for some stimulants to help you stay up to study or anything else for that matter.

          Many individuals with Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder are prescribed stimulants to help with the symptoms of this disorder.  The Article titled "Stimulant Medication Use in College Students: Comparison of Appropriate Users, Misusers, and NonUsers" seeks to compare four groups of college students in relation to stimulant drugs and their different patterns of abuse.  The study conducted observed the characteristics of the college students who were appropriate users, medical misusers, nonmedical misusers, and nonusers of stimulant drugs. 1,153 students were used in the experiment evaluating their side effects. 

(Photo Credit: http://specialedpost.org/2013/02/06/public-awareness-of-adhd-stimulants-abuse-grows/)

        This article argues that the number of college students who abuse drugs such as stimulants is much greater than once thought.  I mean, I suppose that make sense because of the incentive behind it.  Now don't freak out because I said incentive, what I mean is that some college students deal with the stress differently and copious amounts of work, leading down paths such as using stimulants.  However, there are far better ways to deal with needing to stay up for an extra hour to study, or stimulating your mind through the day.  Drink some coffee and play chess, problem solved. 

            The first group examined was the students appropriately using the stimulants for disorders such as ADHD. Each group went through measures and procedures that included self reporting the illegal and legal substances that they obtained over the year. They were asked about where they got the substance, why they take it, and the side effects from using it. For example, the first group of appropriate users were asked if they still dealt with ADHD symptoms while on the stimulant. They were also questioned about their personality characteristics. In evaluating this experiment it is important to recognize the limitation being that this was done solely off of self reporting of college students.  The accuracy of a self report can only extend to the truthfulness and completion of those giving the report. 

(Photo Credit: http://dailyplateofcrazy.com/2013/08/28/back-to-school-same-as-it-ever-was/)

            The results yielded many abusers reasoning behind their acts is to simply get high.  This answer came from the medical misusers and nonmedical misusers. The nonmedical  misusers also reported heavily "to stay awake" while the medical misusers came ahead in the reason of academic performance. To no surprise, the appropriate users reported the reason behind taking the stimulant was to control the symptoms of ADHD. The study continued in questioning to see if there is a relation between other drugs with college students and stimulants. This result yielded that the nonmedical misusers were most likely to endorse other drugs such as marijuana. Those in this category also reported higher levels of insomnia than the other groups.

             In conclusion, this study showed a great deal of abusers looking for recreation with the drug in college. One use of a stimulant can lead to abusing other drugs as well.  Drug abuse is not worth staying up to study, or getting high with your friends.  So next time you feel too tired and like your brain needs stimulated, stick to coffee and maybe download some apps on your phone with shapes and puzzles that make you think, that should do the trick. 

Resource:

Hartung, Cynthia M.; Canu, Will H.; Cleveland, Carolyn S.; Lefler, Elizabeth K.;   Mignogna, Melissa J.; Fedele, David A.; Correia, Christopher J.; Leffingwell, Thad R.; Clapp, Joshua D. (2013). Stimulant Medication Use in College Students:  Comparison of Appropriate Users, Misusers, and Nonusers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol 27(3). American Psychological Association.