With tuition fees at record high, young adults across the UK are looking to new ways of staying focused in order to increase their chances of a better degree.

Study drugs, smart pills or nootropics, are a group of prescription drugs used to increase mental focus and productivity during long periods of work or study. Those most commonly used include Ritalin and Modafinil; both of which are generally prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For people who have ADHD, these drugs can be lifesavers. However, for those who don’t, there are potential risks.

ADHD Richmond is a voluntary support group which has been offering support to parents/carers of children with ADHD since 1995. Chairman of the group, Alastair Yates, said: “Our members’ children, if diagnosed with ADHD, may take medication to increase the dopamine levels in the brain to a ‘normal’ level…The risks involved in someone taking this medication, who has the normal levels of dopamine, is palpable.”

Insomnia, loss of appetite, increased anxiety and more physical issues such as abdominal pain and headaches are all known side-effects of nootropics.

Tracy Robinson, a third-year sociology student at Sussex University tried Modafinil in her first year and says that if you struggle with motivation and concentration, study drugs are worth considering. She said: “I found out about Modafinil after researching nootropics and thought I'd give them a go. I'd always struggled with motivation and concentration with my studies, so I really had nothing to lose trying them.”

However, her experience wasn’t all she’d hoped for. “The issue with the drug is that it made me focus on whatever task I was doing. I would routinely find myself watching bizarre philosophy videos or obsessively cleaning my room. One day I was doing revision and I had combined modafinil with caffeine tablets…the drugs only made me panic more, and I ended up having a severe panic attack and heart palpitations.”

Bozhena Zoritch, one of the UKs leading consultant paediatricians has worked with young people with ADHD for over 30 years. She said: “Although it is rare; drug companies do warn of side effects such as heart-rhythm problems and low blood pressure; not to mention severe weight-loss and depression.”

Smart pills are available online without a prescription and whilst it is a criminal offence to sell the drugs; it is legal to buy and import them into the UK for personal use. Foundation year two doctor, Anna Payne warned of the dangers of buying these drugs online saying: “If bought online, they are not overseen by a healthcare professional. You cannot be sure of the ingredients. They could be mixed with anything or could be fake with no active ingredient.”

When speaking to students it seemed obvious that study drugs are taken a lot less seriously than ‘street drugs’ such as Ecstasy or LSD. Anna Payne believes it’s down to a lack of education.

“Everyone has seen pictures of heroin addicts and crack addicts, so these drugs have negative connotations. Whereas I've never seen a 'study drug addict' as such.”

There have been calls by scientists to start licensing these drugs to students so as to remove the dangers of online purchasing. Anna Payne agrees it would be safer for those who use nootropics regularly, however worries that “it might encourage others to start using them.”

Bozhena Zoritch said: “I think it’s a bit like steroids, just because it helps to build body mass and endurance, it doesn’t mean it should be legally available.”

Another criticism of smart drugs is that it gives students willing enough to risk taking them, an unfair advantage over those who aren’t.

However, Caroline Perry, a third-year politics student at The University of Manchester said she doesn’t see the problem with her peers taking them. “They don’t make you smarter, they’re just for concentration. They’re safe, so if someone was jealous then they could just take them.”

Tracy Robinson said: “I think arguments that say that study drugs make the platform unfair in terms of achievement should also address the incredibly high consumption of caffeine in students.”

A survey conducted showed that over 67% of people consume coffee, whilst only 14% admit to taking drugs to help them study.

So, what do students at City, University of London think? Jaimee Taylor and Lily Hewitson, discuss their stance on study drugs.

The use of nootropics has been a talking point for almost a decade. A report by The Telegraph in 2013, found that 25% of students at top UK universities had taken smart pills. Anna Payne blamed increased pressure on the NHS and the scarcity of funding for the lack of research this topic has seen.

“The NHS has much bigger issues to deal with at the moment and is already massively overstretched. In an ideal world, with a properly funded health system then yes, they could do a campaign, but it's not a major public health issue yet.”

Doctors are urging students to say no to the drugs. Payne and Zoritch agree that students need a healthy lifestyle in order to succeed. This includes adequate sleep, a healthy diet, exercise and regular breaks whilst studying. And although students Tracy and Caroline recommend nootropics to those who struggle to focus, they agree that more research needs to be done to ensure we are aware of the threats these drugs might pose.

Last Thursday, I was sitting in my painfully boring 3-hour long lecture counting down the seconds until the class would end. Just as my prof dismissed us, she reminded us about our upcoming midterm that will take place after reading week.

 “Oh great, that’s just what I need on top of everything else,” I thought. On my way out of the lecture, I was thinking about my schedule and wondering how I would be able to find time to study. I heard another student whisper, “Guess it’s time to stock up on some Aderall.”

 Study drugs are a relatively new phenomenon that is taking place on many college and university campuses. Study drugs, like Aderall and Ritalin, are ADHD-prescribed medications that are used by some students to enhance their focus and concentration. While study drugs can allow students to get more work done in a shorter period of time, most students using these medications do NOT have ADHD and have NOT been prescribed these medications. So, how do they get them?

Let’s face it - all students need a little extra cash and many students with ADHD who have legitimate prescriptions figure that it’s a win-win situation if they sell their medication to other students. The buyer will be able to get the focus he/she needs to get work done, and the seller earns money and seems to have done a good deed by helping out that other student. Seems simple! But did you know that taking drugs without a prescription is ILLEGAL and the students who use the drugs could face prosecution?

 There are also many risks that may come along with taking study drugs. Ritalin, Adderall and other ADHD medications are central nervous system stimulants, meaning they speed up the transmission of electrical and chemical signals that affect brain activity. These effects can be very beneficial to people with ADHD but seriously harmful to others, which is why it’s so important to consult a medical expert before ever taking any medications. In some cases, these study drugs may cause more harm to students when obtained illegally from peers.

 Some risks that have been found by the National institute on Drug Abuse include:

increased blood pressure & heart rate

nervousness & anxiety  

insomnia & exhaustion

hallucinations

impulsive behavior

paranoia & irritability

depression

changes in sexual drive

Long-term addiction

 And when mixed with other substances or drugs, they can be life-threatening!

 Did you know?

 According to Huffington Post, “1 in 5 college students report using study drugs to get a short-term boost of energy for those dreaded all-nighters

According to the following CNN article, “Study drugs are now being abused more than marijuana”- (marijuana having been the most commonly used drug by students following alcohol) http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/01/health/drugs-adderall-concentration/

 If you believe that you are in need of medication to help you concentrate and excel in school, then it’s very important to consult your doctor and get all the facts you need to make an informed decision.

 Keep in mind that it could be helpful to try some other options first though.

 Some helpful tips are:

1)    Avoid cramming as much as you can! Make a study schedule that will allow you to work on a particular task over a gradual amount of time. Writing a 10 page essay in a day or two is intimidating, but writing a paragraph or two per day is not that bad. It will be done before you know it!

2)    Take breaks! Sometimes we think it’s best to just keep going but our brains need a break and our bodies need to move so take a breather. Listen to your favourite song, watch a short TV show, take a walk, do some yoga or cook up a yummy snack. Anything that will get your mind off of schoolwork for a bit!

3)    If you struggle with concentration, essay writing, note-taking, time management and/or anxiety, like many students do, it may be helpful to attend one of the FREE personal counseling service workshops and learning skill service workshops offered at York. They can provide great tips and strategies that can help you improve academically and socially, and help you cope with stress. Check out their workshop calendar at the following links

http://lss.info.yorku.ca/workshops/

http://pcs.info.yorku.ca/calendar-2/

4)    Don’t be afraid to ask for an extension! Professors are people too and they have been in your shoes. If you explain your situation to them in a respectful manner and ask kindly for an extension prior to a deadline, then more often than not, they will be happy to grant you one.

5)    Don’t be too hard on yourself! As busy as we all are, we’ve got to keep in mind that we are not robots. Study hard, but take some time to enjoy too. Sometimes mom’s old saying “Just try your best” really is the way to go!

 Also, take a minute to check out this video that tells you exactly what type of workshops the learning skills services offers and where to find them!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pX0xx50Iw