Some students take drugs for medical needs, others for recreation. But some take them to gain an edge on school work.

Adderall, a frequently prescribed drug for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is being used and even abused by some college students. Adderall and other ADD/ADHD prescription drugs, like Ritalin, are part of the amphetamine drug class.

According to www.erowid.org, amphetamines are a strong physical and mental stimulant available widely in both prescription and street forms. They are the standard against which all other stimulants are measured.

Mild forms of amphetamine, such as Adderall and Ritalin, are supposed to help calm people who have ADD or ADHD, making it easier for them to concentrate. But, these drugs can have a paradoxical effect if taken by people who do not have these disorders. They can make some users more alert and hyper, while reducing appetite and increasing feelings of euphoria, paranoia and aggressiveness. Some call the drug “college crack” because of its potency and frequent use and abuse by college students.

“I couldn’t sleep and I wasn’t hungry,” said Andrew, an NIU student who once used the drug. “All I wanted to do was clean and study.”

Paul, an NIU transfer student, said that before coming to NIU, he was given Adderall from a friend who had a prescription for the drug.

“It makes you very interested in whatever you’re doing, more alert,” Paul said. When writing a paper, he said he did extra research into the subject because the Adderall made him more interested.

“The next day, I was very hyper and had a fast heartbeat,” Paul said.

Amphetamines are considered a Schedule II substance in the U.S. They are illegal to sell without a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license and illegal to buy or possess without a prescription.

“I felt really focused,” said Holly, another student. She said Adderall gave her a dry mouth and also made her want to smoke more cigarettes than usual.

Holly said she either was given Adderall or bought it from her friends. She also said the drug has a greater street value than the similar drug Ritalin, retailing for $10 a pill instead of $2 to $3 a pill.

“It’s very, very addictive; I tell people not to give me it sometimes,” she said. “I can see it being a problem.”

Another problem arose as friends of Holly’s who are against smoking marijuana seem to accept peers’ abuse of Adderall.

“They see it as something to just help them out in school, when it’s really ‘speed,'” she said.

According to Lt. Gary Spangler of the DeKalb Police Department, possession of Adderall without a prescription can be worse than possession of marijuana. Spangler said that under a certain amount, the Illinois Cannabis Control Act cites possession of marijuana as a misdemeanor, whereas any possession of Adderall without a prescription is a felony offense.

“Once people find out it’s an amphetamine, it becomes something in high demand,” Spangler said.

Editor’s Note: The last names of the people talked to for this story were left out due to the sensitive nature of their contextual contributions to the story.