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Essay: Shawn Fanning and the Napster Revolution |
The Use of Legal Drugs for Recreation Among College Students
From an early age, kids are taught the dangers of using illegal drugs, but rarely does anyone mention the hazards involved in the drugs they can legally obtain from the local drug store. College students nationwide, however, have discovered that both over-the-counter and prescription drugs are an easily accessible and cheap form of study aid or entertainment. The new trend sweeping campuses has surpassed merely caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, and now includes more powerful drugs, such as Adderall, ephedrine, Ritalin, and salvia divinorum, all potentially dangerous if the user is unaware of the possible effects, and all of which are readily available on or near most college campuses.
Adderall
found:
typically bought from students with a prescription for Adderall, for
diagnosed Attention Defecit Disorder or Narcolepsy
College students who do not have a prescription
for Adderall use it most often to increase their abilities to focus
and concentrate while doing schoolwork, especially to finish late-night
papers and other important projects. It is also taken as a recreational
drug, either swallowed orally in pill form,
or crushed and snorted through the nose. An amphetamine, Aderall
not only increase's an individual's level of energy
and ability to concentrate, but also raises the heart rate and blood
pressure. Risk for heart attack and stroke are therefore
increased, and stress is put on internal organs such as the liver.
Students both in high school and college
are finding a lucrative business in selling individual pills for as
much as $3 -$10 per pill. Theft of the drug from doctors's offices,
labs, and schools has also increased, and has often proven to be the
work of full-time adult employees. This may be, in
part, due to the cost of an Adderall prescription ranging
from as much as $60 without insurance, to about $20 with
insurance. An Adderall prescription can not be renewed when all the
pills have been taken - it must be represcribed by
a doctor each time.
Possible
Side Effects of Adderall Abuse:
Constipation/Cramps
Diarrhea
Depression
Dizziness
Dry
mouth
Insomnia
Headache
High
Blood Pressure
Impotence
Loss of Appetite
Nosebleeds
Rapid
Heart Beat
Restlessness
Tics
Weight
Loss
In extreme cases, even death
Ephedrine
found: local
drugstore or gas station
Ephedrine was originally used more than
2000 years ago as a treatment for asthma, and was found in plants such
as the Chinese herb Ma-Huang. Today, however, it can
be synthetically produced in labs for mass production and
sale. Ephedrine is classified as a sympathomimetic
agent because it mimics the nervous system. Excitatory chemicals
called catecholamines, which include adrenaline, are released
into the body, stimulating fat-burning and decreasing the appetite,
therefore making ephedrine a popular "miracle
diet pill." To ensure the most effective yet healthy
weight loss with ephedrine, physicians reccommend two doses of
25 mg per day for two days, followed by one day of taking no pills,
allowing the body to rest. Unfortunately, many people have died by consuming
doses greater than 250 mg, leading many states to outlaw the drug.
Ephedrine is still legal in North Carolina.
Possible Side Effects of Ephedrine Use
or Abuse
cardiac
arrhythmia dilating
bronchioles
increased
alertness increased
blood pressure
irritability
nausea
nervousness
tremors
Salvia Divinorum
found: head shops
Salvia Divinorum was first used by the
Mazatecan Indians for healing ceremonies. The plant is rarely found
in nature, but has recently become a popular addition to botanical
and private gardens. Its aesthetic appeal, however, is extremely
different from the hallucinogenic effects it can produce in the
human body.
When ingested for recreation, salvia can
be either inhaled as a vaporized cryatilline powder, or smoked through
a pipe, and is often taken in this method to enhance the effects
of marijuana. Many individuals, including college students, have
found that small dosages of the drug produce an exciting psychedelic
effect, but a "full" dosage of salvia is often an extremely
frightening experience.
The true dangers in the recreational use
of salvia seem not to be the biological effects on the body, as in the
behavioral reactions of those who use the drug. Many
users have found that they do not realize at the time that
they are intoxicated, and become agitated and anxious. Users
will frequently feel compelled to walk long distances or
drive in their impaired state, which, as with any drug, can have
disastrous effects. About five percent of users become unaware of their
surroundings, and will bump into objects repeatedly
and sometimes violently. Many users report having no recollection
of the time of their intoxication on salvia divinorum,
and still others have a very different memory than that recounted
by sober onlookers. Very few users retain an accurate memory
of the experience, and many find it extremely unpleasant. For
these reasons, if one chooses to experience this drug, they should
most certainly employ a trusted friend as a sober "sitter"
to ensure their safety.
Ritalin
found: typically
bought from students with a prescription for Ritalin, for diagnosed
Attention Defecit Disorder
Ritalin is a prescription medication that
has been in use since the 1960's for the treatment Attention Defecite
Disorder, and is most frequently prescribed to children and adolescents. Sometimes
considered a "miracle drug," as it helps almost everyone
to focus, calm down, and better be able to study, the drug has ben extremely
over-prescribed throughout the years. Recently, prescriptions
for Ritalin to college-age students have increased, due to the misdiagnosis
of stress, depression, anxiety, etc. as ADD. As more students
on campus possess the drug on a regular basis, it becomes more accessible
to those without a prescription, and therefore more heavily used.
A typical dosage of Ritalin is about 5-20mg,
and pills are sold illegally for approximately $5-10 each. While Ritalin
can improve study habits or provide a pleasurable "buzz,"
its after effects are often melancholy, lethargy, dry mouth, loss of
appetite, inability to sleep, psychosis, or depression.
Sources
Title of Web Page: Is Ephedrine Safe?
Web Address: www.1-800-family.net/health/ephedrine.html
Brief Description: This site offers a description of the history
of the over-the-counter drug ephedrine, originally used to treat asthma,
as well as its modern day uses (including weight loss), and possible
side-effects. Safety precautions to employ in accordance with the use
of ephedrine are listed. The site is linked to the www.1-800-family.net
homepage, which addresses issues such as parenting, home/garden, seniors,
and faith, as well as healthcare issues.
Source of Web Site: fitness expert Christina Lydon
Title of Web Page: Adderall Fact Sheet
Web Address: www.add.about.com/library/bladderall.htm
Brief Description: This site presents a general overview of the
prescription drug Adderall, used to treat Attention Defecit Disorder
and Narcolepsy. Outlined on the site is a general description of the
drug, followed by possible side effects, drug interactions, other medical
conditions a doctor should be informed of before writing the prescription,
what to do if a dosage is missed, proper storage techniques, and other
precautions.
Source of Web Site: about.com
Title of Web Page: Students Revel in Drug Rush
Web Address: www.newspaper.depauw.edu/2001/04/06_news_drugs.html
Brief Description: This site chronicles the growing use of the
prescription drug Adderall as a study aid among college students. Students
with prescriptions frequently sell their extra pills to fellow students,
who then use the increased attention span either to finish schoolwork,
especially late at night, or enjoy the rush which the drug, an amphetamine
gives. The site also tells of the positive effects the drug has for
students with a legitimate prescription, as well as the dangers of unauthorized
use.
Source of Web Site: written by Amanda Miller (sources not listed)
Title of Web Page: Salvinorin: The Psychedelic
Essence of Salvia Divinorum
Web Address: www.erowid.org/library/books_online/salvinorin/toc.shtml
Brief Description: This site summarizes the information in the
book of the same name, by D. M. Turner. Included is the history of the
plant and its roots with the Mazatec Indians, as well as its discovery,
recommended dosages and administration methods, warnings, and accounts
of individuals who have experienced the hallucinogenic effects of this
legal drug.
Source of Web Site: book written by D. M. Turner, whose bibliography
can be found at www.erowid.org/library/books_online/salinorin/bib.shtml
Title of Web Site: College Students Using Ritalin
to Study, Get High
Web Address: www.ndsn.org/FEB98/trends.html
Brief Description: This site describes the increasing trend of
the use of the prescription drug Ritalin among college students, in
order to increase focus and concentration abilities. Ritalin is an amphetamine
used for treating attention deficit disorder, but its unauthorized use
among college students has been increasing dramatically over the last
several years, and more and more students are being issued prescriptions
for the drug.
Source of Web Site: National Drug Strategy Network