Adderall is prescribed to those with ADHD with the purpose of helping them concentrate for long periods of time, but it has now found its way into the hands of those who do not have this condition, particularly on college campuses. This has created an underground drug market for the pills, each one going for at least $5 and often much more around exam time. Many students swear by the drug, saying that it helps them to study for hours without stopping and gets them better grades on exams. After doing a little digging, however, I’ve found that might not be the case. Adderall definitely aids those with ADHD, but does it really help those who don’t have the condition?
First, this is not to say that Adderall doesn’t help anyone. It does a lot to our brain, but the main point is that Adderall “essentially increases the signal-to-noise ratio of neurotransmission, allowing people to focus on the task at hand” (http://www.neurorexia.com). It is a stimulant, stimulating this neurotransmission. People with ADHD need a boost in this neurotransmission, so the drugs help them. “Smarter” people, by common society’s definition, don’t necessarily need this boost so the drug doesn’t actually help them as much. Adderall essentially helps those with ADHD to catch up to those who do not have ADHD, but it is not made for people without ADHD to go above and beyond.
Dr. Martha Farah researched this topic at the University of Pennsylvania using a blind placebo test. She looked at 47 twenty-something year-old subjects and none of them had ADD or ADHD. Every subject was tested on multiple cognitive functions including working memory, raw intelligence, and memory of specific faces and events. All of the participants were tested on both Adderall and the placebo, but they did not know which they were taking. When the results of the tests came back, there was almost no difference in the scores; however, when the participants were asked “how much did the pill influence your performance,” those who took Adderall were more inclined to say that they thought they did better on the tests despite no improvement in scores. Adderall “unleashes the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine, triggers the brain’s reward system, and can produce a mild sense of euphoria,” according to an article in Time. This would explain why students think they are doing better and learning more than they really are. Adderall is essentially making studying more fun for the brain, giving off a feeling of confidence at test time.
When deciding whether or not to buy Adderall to study for the next SC200 exam, you might want to evaluate your own study habits and mental capability. If you have the mindset that “I could probably study on my own, but buying Adderall couldn’t hurt, right?” it’s probably the case that your brain and your wallet really don’t need it.
Photo Source: http://www.neurorexia.com/2013/04/18/do-smart-drugs-actually-make-you-smarter/
This blog is really interesting. I know so many people who do exactly what you said around exam time. I knew it couldn’t be good for them, but I didn’t know it didn’t even help them much. I also agree that the placebo effect has a huge impact on studies like these and when students think they are on it, they’re more likely to study more and feel more focused. Thanks for the information!!
This blog post was really interesting to read. I’ve heard about students in college using adderall and it always sounded a little too good to be true to me. People made it sound as though it was a magic pill that made you smarter just by taking it. However, after reading your blog post it makes perfect sense to me now. The pill just makes people feel better and more confident, which I guess increases their academic performance. Thanks for the interesting read!