Hopkins follows national trend of increased Adderall use
Dunn doesn't believe that he is getting an unfair advantage, since he still puts all his effort into his schoolwork.
"Sure, the [Adderall] helps a lot in class. But I'm also sitting in the front row of every class, taking notes, doing everything I can to do well," he said.
Another anonymous freshman has a prescription for Focalin, a drug similar to Adderall. Though the student has been diagnosed with ADD, the student struggles with the ethical implications of the drug.
"It's something I've had problems dealing with, why I get to take it and other people don't get to use assistance," the student said. "I do see it as an advantage."
The student said that friends have often asked for a pill or two of Focalin, and on occasion, the student has given it away.
"I have given [Focalin] to a couple of friends, and I don't really see how that's bad," the student said. "I would never give it to people who just wanted to edge out the competition, but I've given it to friends to help them do the work that they feel they would do or could do considering better circumstances."
The student has struggled with the idea that so many people are abusing the drug around campus while the student has an actual need for it.
"I take [Focalin] so I can be in a place where I can rationally make the decision to do work, because when I don't take it, I would never be able to choose to do work," the student said. "[Students who abuse it] take it so they don't have to make the choice to focus or not to focus. The drug is making the decision for them, and that's a cheap solution."
Students aren't the only ones grappling with the effects of this unique drug problem. Dorothy Sheppard, associate dean of students, said that the trend has been brought to her attention.
"A student came in at the beginning of the year and asked me what my feelings were [about the abuse of Adderall] and if I thought it gave students some edge," Sheppard said.
"Sure, the [Adderall] helps a lot in class. But I'm also sitting in the front row of every class, taking notes, doing everything I can to do well," he said.
Another anonymous freshman has a prescription for Focalin, a drug similar to Adderall. Though the student has been diagnosed with ADD, the student struggles with the ethical implications of the drug.
"It's something I've had problems dealing with, why I get to take it and other people don't get to use assistance," the student said. "I do see it as an advantage."
The student said that friends have often asked for a pill or two of Focalin, and on occasion, the student has given it away.
"I have given [Focalin] to a couple of friends, and I don't really see how that's bad," the student said. "I would never give it to people who just wanted to edge out the competition, but I've given it to friends to help them do the work that they feel they would do or could do considering better circumstances."
The student has struggled with the idea that so many people are abusing the drug around campus while the student has an actual need for it.
"I take [Focalin] so I can be in a place where I can rationally make the decision to do work, because when I don't take it, I would never be able to choose to do work," the student said. "[Students who abuse it] take it so they don't have to make the choice to focus or not to focus. The drug is making the decision for them, and that's a cheap solution."
Students aren't the only ones grappling with the effects of this unique drug problem. Dorothy Sheppard, associate dean of students, said that the trend has been brought to her attention.
"A student came in at the beginning of the year and asked me what my feelings were [about the abuse of Adderall] and if I thought it gave students some edge," Sheppard said.
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JHU Student
posted 2/22/08 @ 10:34 AM EST
I have no idea how I would study without using ritalin.
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