6 things everyone should know about study drugs

As we prepare for exams and projects, it can be tempting for some to use prescription stimulants (commonly referred to as ‘study drugs’) without a prescription.

If you choose to use ‘study drugs’ to prepare for finals, here are a few things you should know to reduce your risk. 

1. What are study drugs?

Prescription stimulants that are used without a prescription in order to increase energy and concentration are often referred to as ‘study drugs.’ These drugs contain amphetamine, and are typically prescribed to manage attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Ritalin and Adderall are the two most commonly misused stimulants.

In addition to stimulants, some students may use anti-anxiety medications, like Xanax, without a prescription or not as prescribed. 

Whether you choose to use stimulants, anti-anxiety meds or other substances, it’s important to know that there is a large market for counterfeit drugs laced with fentanyl, methamphetamine and other substances. These include any substance purchased off the street, including purchases from friends, classmates or dealers. 

Learn more about fentanyl and overdose prevention

2. Understand the side effects

While some people may believe that using stimulants without a prescription may help them focus better, they’re not likely to help your academic performance. In fact, misusing stimulants and amphetamines can lead to unintended consequences, including: 

• Risk of accidental overdose due to counterfeit pills that may contain other unknown substances
• Increased anxiety or other mental health impacts
• Feeling anxious or jittery
• Physical discomfort, including nausea, digestive issues, etc.
• Risk of seizure and cardiac event, especially if dosing isn’t managed by a healthcare provider
• Increased irritability
• Losing sleep, feeling fatigued
• Focusing on the wrong things (e.g. organizing your room instead of studying)
• Becoming addicted or dependent on amphetamines

As you think through the risks and side effects associated with using ‘study drugs,’ consider if there are alternative ways to achieve the same results while avoiding unwanted experiences. For instance, you may find that you feel more energized after seven to nine hours of sleep at night or you may feel more productive if you break down your study blocks into smaller sections.

 Note: Side effects can occur when stimulants are used with or without a prescription. If you are currently using stimulants as prescribed to treat a condition and are concerned about negative side effects, contact your healthcare provider.

3. Use alternative strategies to study

When it’s crunch time, study drugs may seem like an option to extend a study session or maintain better focus. However, studies have shown that using study drugs without a prescription doesn’t enhance academic performance. This is because medications like Ritalin or Adderall can make some feel more alert, but they may not improve test-taking or study skills. 

The most effective way to improve your grade is to start early, give yourself plenty of time to study, get consistent sleep and take regular breaks. 

Here are a few tips as you prepare for finals:

• Schedule your study sessions. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Try to plan your study during times of the day when you’re feeling mentally sharp.
   
• Prioritize subjects. Prioritize what you study based on what will be on your exams. Start with the information you don’t know as well. If you aren’t sure what will be on your exams, reach out to your instructors for clarification. Remember it’s okay to move onto other topics if you get stuck and come back later.
   
• Reduce distractions. Find ways to reduce distractions while studying. For instance, you may want to turn off your phone notifications or log out of social media accounts. Once you hit a milestone in your assignment or study guide, take a short break to check your feed or watch an episode of your favorite show as a reward before you start studying again.
   
• Go to bed at a reasonable time. Plan for at least seven hours of sleep each night. If you stay up late and feel groggy during the day, try to fit a 15 to 20 minute power nap into your day. Sleep is important for memory, alertness, mood and motivation, so it’s important to be well rested.
   
• Start small. If you are having trouble getting started on a paper or project, create a loose outline with a list of your main points. Staring at a blank page can make it more difficult to get started, and creating a plan with your outline can help overcome that roadblock. Similarly, you can break study guides into smaller chunks and work through them methodically.
   
• Set the mood. Create an effective study environment or reserve a space to study in advance. Make sure you have all the supplies you need, such as pencils, calculators, your laptop and charger, water, snacks and class materials.
• Maintain your energy. It’s important to eat regularly and stay hydrated throughout the day, especially if you’re preparing for exams. Study sessions tend to be more productive when we are full and focused.

Check out additional study and test-taking tips

4. Reduce your risks

Stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin are safest when prescribed by a physician and can pose additional risks when taken without a prescription. Using ‘study drugs’ in combination with other medications or alcohol can create additional risks. For instance, combining stimulants with depressants, such as alcohol, Xanax or opiates, can increase the risk of overdose.

It’s also important to know that any drug not purchased directly from a pharmacy may contain fentanyl, methamphetamine, xylazine or other substances. This is because many counterfeit capsules and pressed pills are made to look like prescription medications, including Adderall, Percocet, Oxycontin and Xanax. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), nearly half of all counterfeit pills tested contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. 

Here are some things to keep in mind to reduce your risk:

• Assume any drug not purchased directly from a pharmacy is contaminated with harmful substances.
• Remember, fentanyl strips are not a guarantee of safety. Fentanyl may still be in another untested part of the pill or powder or it may contain another unknown synthetic substance.
• If you choose to use stimulants without a prescription, start slow, use smaller doses and practice caution.
• Keep naloxone, an FDA-approved nasal spray that can be used to temporarily reverse opioid and fentanyl overdoses, on hand and learn how to use it.
• Use fentanyl test strips whenever possible to test substances before you use them. Test strips are available from Health Promotion on the third floor of Wardenburg Health Center.
• Avoid using substances alone. If someone experiences an overdose, make sure they know how to call for help and administer naloxone.
• Try using an app like Canary, which alerts someone if you become unresponsive, or Brave, which allows you to connect with an anonymous person to call for help in case of overdose.
• Practice healthy habits, like eating regularly and staying hydrated.
• Schedule time to sleep and recover after use (sleep is one of the best predictors for academic success).

 Note: Possession and/or selling Schedule I narcotics (i.e. Ritalin, Adderall, Xanax, etc.) is illegal and can result in criminal charges and are a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.