Leadership Exchange - Summer 2009

Although many non-
medical users reported
occasional recreational
use, this was a far less
important motive than

enhancing the ability
to study.

• Nearly 40 percent of nonmedical users felt they required the drugs to do their best academically, and about

10 percent of surveyed students worried about becoming drug dependent.

Are Students Treating Themselves for
Attention Difficulties?

Although alcohol and drug use were the strongest predictor of nonmedical use, students who reported difficulty with attention were also more likely to use ADHD meds. In fact, many students who used ADHD medication nonmedically reported attention difficulties comparable to students who had ADHD. These students also reported heightened concerns about succeeding academically and had significantly lower GPAs. While it is likely that some of these students had undiagnosed ADHD, attention difficulties can result from a variety of other factors as well, including depression, anxiety, and poor sleep.

These findings provide a somewhat different perspective on the nonmedical use of ADHD medication by college students. Although media reports frequently highlight that students use ADHD medication to gain an “academic edge” and to function at a heightened level, findings identify a subset of nonmedical users who may turn to ADHD medication to “treat” attention difficulties that they believe interfere with their ability to succeed academically. These students are worried about making the grade to remain in school; they are not looking for an extra boost to make the dean’s list. They would benefit from a professional evaluation so that the reasons for their struggles can be better understood and appropriate treatments can be implemented. Some college counseling centers do not provide evaluation or treatment services for ADHD, and students may not have easy access to these services on campus.

Helping Adults with ADHD

Senior student affairs officers who want to address the issue of nonmedical ADHD drug use on their campuses should consider the importance of educating students and staff members about adult ADHD. Staff should understand when it is appropriate to suggest that students be evaluated for this condition and help facilitate ways that such evaluations can be obtained, particularly if they are not available on campus. This heightened awareness about ADHD is a necessary complement to policies and programs intended to reduce substance use more broadly. Students who treat themselves for attention problems with ADHD drugs are exposing themselves to a potentially dangerous substance without any medical oversight and forgoing far more appropriate ways to obtain help for their problems. LE

David Rabiner is an associate research professor in the Department of
Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. He is a co-author
of “The Misuse and Diversion of Prescribed ADHD Medications
by College Students,” to appear in an upcoming issue of Journal of
Attention Disorders.

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51 Uplifting Tales of Courage, Humor,
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