Prescriptions Pills, College, and Treatment that can Help

With the fall semester coming up, college students are getting ready to continue with their adult education or start for the first time. And with a global pandemic still hovering over everyone’s head, anxiety is sure to be part of the experience. Not to mention the pressure to succeed in a competitive world. Drug addiction doesn’t always look how many may expect. Sometimes it’s simply an individual who wants to be focused just enough to succeed and chooses prescription drugs to make that vision a reality.

Recovery First Treatment Center treats individuals who battle substance misuse with prescription pills. The facility is part of the parent company American Addiction Centers (AAC), a nationwide leader in addiction treatment. We provide medical detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient program (IOP), partial hospitalization program (PHP), and intensive rehabilitation. With our features and amenities such as apartment-style living, an updated gym, and even at 28-bed capacity that allows for small groups of individuals to connect and to get to know each other, Recovery offers a welcoming environment in which to get sober.

Many focus on the dangers of illicit drugs. However, there have been many people who have misused prescription stimulants. For example, in 2019 alone, 4.9 million Americans over the age of 12 have turned to these prescribed substance options. This includes prescriptions such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and Dexedrine. Although these drugs have medical uses, selling or possessing them for recreational use is against the law. These stimulants can be dangerous when misused, are addictive, and can increase the risk of progressing into a substance use disorder.

But what about the hard-working college students that want to excel, but are finding it difficult to keep up with their workload and their inability to create more hours in a day? Nearly every college student who misuses Adderall or other ADHD prescriptions receives the drug from a classmate or a friend who has ADHD. And three quarters of those who misuse these drugs are doing so to study, stay awake, and to focus before an exam. Although the drugs may keep them awake and cause them to focus, it will not improve their level of intelligence or cause them to improve the quality of their work.

Characteristics of those who misuse Adderall/similar drugs:
• In college.
• Belong to a sorority/fraternity.
• Are disproportionately white.
• Tend to have grade point averages of a B or lower, as the purpose of these drugs is to help students focus on studying/reading.

College can be difficult enough. Some have to balance the responsibilities of a job, along with their studies. Some even have a family, a full-time career, and are enrolled as a full-time student. Every student is different. And each student handles stress and achievement differently as well. In our ambition-driven country that thrives on success, money, and rewards, some individuals are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve them, even at the detriment of their own health. If you or a loved one is struggling with prescription drugs, you’re not alone. Recovery First Treatment Center is here to help you reach long-term sobriety together… one day at a time.