Microsoft Word - CUSJ_Spring_2015_Journal.docx


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Addicted to Adderall  
 

Osman Moneer1, Jacqueline Lawson2, Julia Joern3 & Theresa Mensah4 
 

1Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; 2Department of Neuroscience, Columbia 
University, New York, NY, USA; 3Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; 

4Department of Biochemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA 
 

1

In college student’s everyday struggle of completing 
assignment after assignment, the au naturel approach 
doesn’t always cut it. Substances are often used to bridge the 
gap to allow students to meet the ideal level of academic 
rigor while maintaining a desired lifestyle. In the realm 
of  “study drugs,” caffeine plays a significant role, keeping 
students awake and alert, but Adderall reigns supreme.  
 
Intended to alleviate difficulties associated with Attention 
Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Adderall touts a 
greater focus and increased alertness. But, defining and 
diagnosing ADHD is a fairly difficult and subjective 
process. The National Institute of Mental Health states that 
those with ADHD may experience symptoms such as 
“difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty 
controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity),” but 
provides no explanation as to its causes. The lack of 
understanding surrounding ADHD, given its unknown 
origins and vague symptoms yields issues in diagnosing 
ADHD and determining who actually needs to use the drugs 
designed for it.  
 
Because of this confusion, Adderall is one of the most 
commonly used drugs by college students, who often lack 
even a prescription to justify their use. 30% of students 
abuse ADHD medication such as Adderall, and an estimated 
81% of students believe ADHD medication is not dangerous. 
Students like Adderall because it makes them “smarter,” and 
if negative consequences of the drug are this unclear, who 
wouldn’t want this additional focus? Ethical considerations 
aside – what are we to make of this? How does Adderall 
interact biochemically and is it detrimental to one’s health? 
  
Adderall is a chemical compound made up of different 
portions of amphetamine salts. It is composed of ¼ racemic 
amphetamine aspartate monohydrate, ¼ dextroamphetamine 
saccharin, ¼ dextroamphetamine sulfate, and ¼ racemic 
amphetamine sulfate. Amphetamines are psychostimulants 
and target neurotransmitters of the central nervous system.  
 
Before we can understand how Adderall works in the body, 
we need to know a few things about neurotransmitters. 
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers responsible for a 
range of everyday life functions. Popular neurotransmitters 
include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, 
histamine, melatonin, and endorphins. We don’t usually 
consider it, but, in reality, our actions are simply dictated by 
a series of biochemical interactions going on in our bodies. 
This gives drugs that can control and alter these interactions 
significant power in affecting behavior. 

2

Adderall primarily functions by targeting activity of the 
neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. 
Dopamine is, in part, responsible for pleasures related to 
motivation, emotional states, and internal reward systems. 
Norepinephrine is related to focus and alertness levels. It’s 
evident that these neurotransmitters might be implicated in 
ADHD, and increasing amounts of them seems a reasonable 
approach to counteract issues related to one’s attention.  
 
If the main effect of Adderall is an increase in attention 
capacities and greater mental stimulation – it’s not hard to see 
why it might be taken as a method of efficient studying. 
Greater dopamine concentrations keep you studying longer by 
tricking your brain to feel as if it is being rewarded for doing 
an otherwise unpleasant task, and greater norepinephrine 
concentrations allow you to stay focused on the task at hand.  
  
Supposing one doesn’t have ADHD, is Adderall really bad for 
you? If Adderall makes you a better studier, why aren’t we all 
popping Addys and acing our exams? 
 
Every person has a different biochemical makeup and no drug 
is without side effects. Though it boasts mental alertness, 
Adderall’s common side effects include nausea, loss of 
appetite, dry mouth, anxiety, agitation, mood changes, sleep 
problems, headache, dizziness, and more. Other side effects 
may include fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats, numbness, 
tingling, and dangerously high blood pressure. Side effects 
vary between people, and there’s an inherent risk in taking a 
drug without knowledge of how it might affect one’s body.  
  
Additionally, the issue of addiction to such an enhanced state 
exists as a significant concern. Because dopamine and 
norepinephrine levels are at such peaks, chronic use of 
Adderall for an individual without ADHD may result in 
addictive use of the substance.  
 
Adderall usage for those without ADHD, though it may likely 
enhance performance, is not worth it. The benefits don’t 
outweigh the risks, and there are reasonable alternatives such 
as exercise! Don’t use Adderall without a prescription. It just 
doesn’t add up. 
 
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