This is a guest blog submitted by The_Prestigiator 
Last semester, I fell into the "last-minute scholarly" ambition category, I was sleep-deprived for three straight days and somehow managed to tap out four 12-15-page papers, finish a chemistry exam, and ace a Latin test. When my mom found me on the last day of school, I was a numb, rambling fool.
Thankfully, I have altered my ways so that all-nighters never pile on top of one another. However, I can't help but worry about my peers out there who are drowning in coursework. Exams, term papers, thesis’, and portfolios induce unnecessary panic attacks. And in an effort to take a stab at a glittering grade, students trade in sleep for more time to complete their final projects.
Unfortunately, many students do not rely on sheer willpower and crazy amounts of dark coffee (or copious amounts of Dr.Pepper in my case) to get the job done.
Many go as far as using ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) prescription drugs (Aderrall for instance) to keep the study vibe buzzing. I have witnessed abuse of this drug in my university's library and hear that it's rampant on almost every college campus.
Not only are sleepless nights straining on the body and can lead to various health complications such as common colds and lack of focus, but adding Adderall to the mix can turn any well-intentioned undergrad into a complete and utter blubbering mess.
Positive effects of Adderall: Alertness and sharp yet temporary focus.
Negative effects of Adderall: insomnia, heart attacks, and hallucinations just to name a few.
Why do people pop Adderall pills when the health hazards out weigh the benefits? What are some other ways in you stay awake during a stressful academic or work stretches?
Comments (37)
I go to one of the toughest universities in the world, and I don't know anyone who pops meds to get through the essay crises. I can damn well see why you'd want to at some points, but no one really does here. We just work our asses off.
I know i saw it way more when i lived in the states though, so maybe it's more an American college issue? Maybe it's just easier to get away with there.Nice post, I'm glad you put that out there! For me, the best way to get things done the night before is to have a buddy who's there working, too. We don't have to study or work together, but just having someone to talk with occasionally keeps my mind occupied. And there they're go on a 3 am Whataburger run with me when we need it. Don't try to study in your dorm room with your sleeping roomate.
I was addicted to adderall for at least 3 months. I took up to 60 mg a day, everyday. While I took it, everything was amazing. I did so much homework, my room was so clean. And then, when I ran out of money or resources, I crashed. It's not worth it, it's seriously terrible and addictive, and expensive. You become dependent on it to the point that you can't do work at all unless you've taken it.
And it's also not a party drug. I hate people that think they should take it with alcohol to affect the buzz. Dumbasses.
@sup_vanityy@xanga - I wonder if maybe the students in your school are more prepared to get started on projects early, study as they learn, etc, and have fewer incidents where they get to the night before everything is due and haven't prepared. I think that would make people more likely to start abusing.
@sup_vanityy@xanga - I never knew people were taking drugs to help them study, either, but that doesn't mean they're not doing it.
I was shocked one day in college when one of my friends gave me an adderall to take when I had to make an 8 hour drive. the thought of being drugged up while driving freaked me out! I have no idea where she got it from, but I threw it out later. she said she used to use it to study for finals, but didn't have any use for them after she graduated. she even warned me about the crash later! um, no thanks.
I'll just stick to a good night's rest and coke/pepsi, thank you.
Sometimes I think I need some Adderall. =P
JK!
Rockstars and other energy drinks do it for me. But there's also power naps and stuff. I think Adderall is too extreme. The amount of study time one can cram in doesn't even outweigh the benefit have having even a little sleep. I mean, pulling an all nighter for an exam is worse than stopping and sleeping for two to three hours before an exam.
@solidsnake8462@xanga - I definitely agree. My only college roommate, studied his butt off every time tests came around. Me on the other hand, didn't put too much stock on studying. I just paid closer attention in class and took better notes. When exams rolled around, I got my sleep, worked out and did just as well if not better than my roommate who stayed up all night studying. Oh and I would never take that crap to stay awake. Much better off lifting weight for 15 minutes. Exercise keeps you up.
I never really understood why people put themselves in a position to 'pull all-nighters' You really do function better after a full night of sleep! So I just never stayed up all night!
It really is a problem - people feel the pressure to do it all. Good grades, parties, clubs, whatever. Sometimes they just dont know when to say no!
What ever happened to staying organised? Almost all taught courses in college are easy to ace if you put in to action a solid 9am - 5pm work ethic. ie. you organize your life around studying. They are designed that way. Learning slow and steady is much more effective in engaging long term memory. A lot of undergrad's don't seem to understand that the goal of attending college is to develop skills that are going to help them make a living... not ace tests.
If you need a pick me up, you should do short bursts of very high intensity exercise. Running doesn't cut it as it doesn't engage enough muscle groups. Deadlift's do the trick. So do squats. Anything that engages lots of muscle groups simultaneously and sends your pulse rate sky high for 15-20mins totally blasts out mental cobwebs and ups alertness. Good for your health too.
Sometimes, when reading extra heavyweight material, napping helps immensely. 3 hours solid work followed with a 20 min nap (where you just free your mind to think what it wants, even if its stupid.. apparently a lot of mental farts are a result of the brain processing and categorizing information... its best to let it just get on with its business) , followed by 3 hours work with a 20 min nap etc.
Eating healthy is very important as well. Fried foods, sugar highs and crashes and processed foods = mental slowdown. Its amazing how much clearer / faster my thinking becomes within 3 days of eating totally healthy.
In emergencies I resort to coffee (without sugar)... but that's on rare occasions when circumstances beyond my control force long hours of work.
@kash - I've tried exercising to stay awake, but it doesn't do much for me. I tend to get tired after 10 minutes of studying after exercising. I only drink the stuff it it's absolutely necessary.
Honestly, just like other people have said, exercise really helps. Whenever I've been dancing I can't sleep to save my life because I have so much energy, regardless of how tired I was before. But soda works really well for me too because I very RARELY drink soda, and I don't drink coffee, so any amount of caffeine keeps going for quite a while!
this blog just reminded to go take one.
Personally i have ADD and actually have trouble focusing and working without it.
is putting your body at risk really worth it for school work? i think health always comes first.
@lovemecauseunoido@xanga - i have ADD too, i think they're mainly targeting people who don't have ADD that still take it because it 'makes them work better.'
another thing to note is that if you do take adderall, you are not supposed to take caffeine or any other stimulant, as it can easily cause a heart attack. you can only stimulate the body so much before you cause it to react badly. one day i almost gave myself a heart attack because i forgot that i took my medicine and started to have some dr. pepper at a seminar... NO GOOD!
I've taken adderall a few times... and I wasn't negatively affected by it. It helped me stay focused and that was all I needed.
And I personally believe it isn't addictive unless your make yourself addicted to it, like most drugs.
@lovemecauseunoido@xanga - Oh no. This post isn't about people who actually have ADD/ADHD. It focuses on the use of Adderall to stay up and study. Sorry you were offended by it!
i never used adderall as an undergraduate...i just went to starbux and got the large with 2 extra shots and then drank 2 pots of tea LOL plus i can deal with 4 hours sleep with sheer willpower as long i don't have to drive. i can even deal with no sleep as long i have copious amounts of caffeine, but that makes me bitchier then a grizzly bear waking up from hibernation
i probably shouldn't have done the honors program and done research and had 3 minors...then i could have gotten some sleep!!! but seriously, ppl don't need adderall =__= none of my friends used it, and most of them were disgusting overachievers like me
I was a math major in college. I studied everyday. I took adderall every day. There was one instance when I pulled an all nighter, and do not be mistaken it was not for lack of preparation. I took way too many hard classes the last semester of my senior year. Although I realize that many use adderall for those last minute cram sessions, not all users of adderall's are ill prepared or irresponsible.
And seriously, Adderall is nothing to be afraid of.
I learned in my neuropharmacology class that ADHD medications like Adderall and Concerta/Ritalin have essentially the same effect as coffee on normal people + placebo effect + side effects of the medication, which can include schizophrenia like symptoms (due to the overactivation of the dopamine system). Seriously people, take meds only if you are prescribed them. Otherwise, you might as well go drink some coffee, which is both cheaper and doesn't have weird side effects.
@nuttynutrition - thats insane. I don't really consume caffeine but with that in mind i will consciously stay away from it when taking the drug.
@ironic_vertigo@xanga - "which can include schizophrenia like symptoms"..i thought that was just that was slowly developing in my head. Apparently its real. great..after years of being prescribed the drug i knew it would change my brain chemistry. just didn't really know how. I wish i didn't need it to function. its a really slow process to learn how to be productive in this society with this lame disability.
personally i take it,(and i'm not /addadhd), not to help me study but to help me lose weight (yeah i know stupid reason).. & for some energy during a school day...
i never knew people were using it to study, though the energy would easily help, but when i take it it makes me ADD kind of, so easily distracted & so hard to concentrate on anything..
wow.. never take it or any other drugs an i never will.. i hate even taking a tylenol for a head ache.. I personally think people need to suck stuff up and stop being such big babies and deal with stuff
Haha I love how this is a topic. It's so ghetto and of course it's dangerous. Kids pop it and snort it at school. You just got compared to high school kids just for making a post about this.