As the saying goes, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” American college students of the 21st century have been forcefully subjected to highly competitive environments due to a multitude of external factors. As of late, the prescription drug, Adderall has become the drug of choice for ambitious college students, and has earned the title of being today’s college candy and academic steroid. First introduced and approved by the U.S. FDA, Adderall became the common treatment for those suffering from ADHD and narcolepsy. The drug is considered a schedule II stimulant, falling in the same category as cocaine and codeine due to its addictive nature (Tran). Nicknamed “addy” by college students, Adderall and its effects have been proven …show more content…
State budget cuts in California have resulted in class cuts at universities and colleges, decreasing the amount of available enrollment space for students. As a result, students are constantly struggling to register for classes, increasing their chances of retaining for a fifth year. Post-graduates are also further presented with complications, particularly in the job market. Findings show that only half of post-graduates will attain job positions in which will actually utilize their earned bachelor’s degrees. Graduate school has thus become increasingly more necessary than a high school diploma and bachelor’s degree, whereas years ago both seemed sufficient enough to maintain decent livings. As mentioned in the New York Times, “more than sixty percent of those who graduated in the last five years say they will need more formal education to be successful”(Rampell). Thus, college students in California are constantly seeking a competitive edge over their peers in order to keep up with such demands. Students, whom are the primary users, also hold different opinions regarding the issue. Essentially, the majority acceptance or disproval of such abusive behavior determines whether or not the issue is a big deal or not on campus. Students are more prone to trying things with the support of their peers.
So how may a student adapt to such overly competitive environments? Through
Thesis Statement: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “the 2012 graduation rate for…full-time undergraduate students who began their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year…institution…was 59 percent.” Also stated was that it took 6 years for those first-time college students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Every year the number of graduating college students is drastically decreasing. We believe that there
Arnold H. Glasow once stated, “Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.” Success comes in multiple forms depending on who you are and what your values consist of. In this article, Why Everyone Shouldn’t Go to College, written by Larry Cuban and reposted in the Washington Post by Valerie Strauss, pontificates on the importance of informing students college doesn’t always equate to success. More than half of college graduates flee into low-paying jobs even with high educational degrees. Cuban sheds some light on the alternatives to make money without spending a ridiculous amount on college. With that said, educating young scholars on the options they possess instead of hiding them, will further increase
In a May 2003 persuasive article published by USA Today titled “College isn’t for Everyone”, the author W.J. Reeves states “about 15 million people in America are enrolled in college.” This is a staggering amount considering the fact that many people are in college for all the wrong reasons. About half of the Americans enrolled in college are there because they feel they owe it to their families. Only a small number of Americans in college actually feel it is necessary for successful lives. In this article, Reeves recollects on his experiences as a college English professor at an institution in New York. He speaks of how he believes that many students truly do not want to be in college. You can tell this by his stories of tardiness,
Unfortunately, students are being deceived by the stimulant drug’s valuable qualities, masking the serious, detrimental effects that the drug induces. Even worse, contributing to Adderall’s extensive abuse across campuses, “instead of condemnation it is implicitly being praised and validated by parents and students who view these drugs as a means of academic
As the saying goes “Desperation can make a person do surprising things.” Not just in America but all around the world, getting accepted and attending a recognized college is almost impossible to achieve. In the United States College students have been subjected to an extremely competitive environment. The pressure to being successful can be almost unbearable because there isn’t a human being that’s perfect. Right now there are millions of students staring at their final exam review feeling hopeless due to the load of work. Willing to do whatever it takes to pass it. There is an alarming but popular trend among college campuses. It’s being used as today’s college steroid. According to a recent study from Brigham Young University, “Adderall is the most commonly abused prescription stimulant among college students” (Hanson et al.). A large number of students are wrongly using a very potent prescription medication called Adderall or known by students as the “study drug.” Adderall is well recognized drug or specifically known as a neuroenhancing drug which stimulates the brain to perform better. According to The Office of Alcohol and Drug Education at the University of Notre Damen, Adderall was first introduced around the late 90’s and approved by the Food and Drug administration as an alternative to Ritalin, another stimulant, which last twice as long than Ritalin.
Reference: Varga, M. D. (2012). Adderall Abuse on College Campuses: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 9(3), 293-313. doi:10.1080/15433714.2010.525402
The use of Adderall is steadily increasing everywhere and ex-specially in colleges. Students are continually pushed and pushed by the people and the things in their life’s that are driving them to be in school and to maintain certain grades to achieve their goals. With all this presser to do good in
This paper will look into one of the most commonly used and sought for drugs found on college campuses in the world today. Adderall and other forms of the “smart drug” have become more and more popular when it comes to students and young professionals trying to get an advantage. It will discuss both the positive and negative side effects of taking these smart pills along with the specific affects/reasons for ingesting them whether they are prescribed or not.
In conclusion, Adderall is a dangerous drug that should not be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Students and people everywhere taking these pills non medically need to understand the dangers associated with taking Adderall and the risks being taken every time they consume this dangerous medication. Parents of the young children being prescribed Adderall need to look into different treatment options before just giving their child a dangerous schedule II drug. Though Adderall can help some of its users, it should not be given to children. It is a dangerous drug to use even for the people that actually need it, everyone with ADHD should look into other options for treatment. Doctors need to step up and stop giving these
“The liberal arts today have fallen in prestige. In the early decades of the 20th century, about 70% of U.S. undergraduates majored in the liberal arts…”(Roche 4). Liberal arts demands have been reducing due to the scrimmage of economical issues. Students are more likely to make academic decisions that favor fields perceived to be paths to jobs, and jobs that pay well. This desirable way supports brutal economy. As William Zinsser says in “College Pressures” all the costs are high, from heating oil, insurance, postage to health insurance. Despite plenty of evidences that liberal arts graduates also have successful careers, undergraduates prefer other fields that seem to promise employment. Students flee their first steps in to the real world, which is an opportunity to reflect on higher education. Lack of guarantee to secure jobs in the future tends to push students toward vocational arts instead of liberal arts. Moreover, paying too much money is not desired today; in contrast focusing directly on the workplace is the
Today, in 2015, I would argue that the typical average college student’s reason for being in college is to get a decent job that will yield to an adequate income. Money has an extremely high standing for many people in today’s society. The desire for a well-paying job paired with our well-advanced technologies have contributed to the industry’s need for specialized workers. The competition in the job market is often times overwhelming, which forces students to focus on their field of study as best as possible in order to become the well-trained specialist a company is looking for. In addition to specialization in the professional environment, I have experienced that many people put a great effort in conforming to society’s social norms and
According to Arne Duncan, 25% of U.S. high school students drop out or do not graduate on time, which is one out of every four people. In the article, “The Vision of Education Reform in the United States,” Duncan also informs that, “Almost one million students leave our schools for the streets each year.” (Duncan). The U.S. used to lead the world in college attainment but is tied for ninth now. The students themselves willingly choose to give up expanding their knowledge, which negatively affects their future. Consequently, they are unable to obtain a well-paying occupation for the price of inadequately acquiring their diploma.
Higher education in America is facing many challenges, i.e., low retention, low graduation rates and less funding. Postsecondary institutions are scrambling to remain a competitive entity within society. In order to do so, students must remain in school (Talbert, 2012). The Office of the White House states (2014), educational attainment is critical to our county’s economic success. In essence, the work force is creating more jobs requiring more education and a higher level of skill than was previously achieved. Individuals with only a high school diploma will not make into the middle class sector because of
In an age where a college degree is becoming more of a necessity, the high stress levels and competitiveness experienced by students at colleges and universities can become to much to bare. In turn, certain individuals seek the help of study drugs, also known as nootropics, “refer to the out-of-accordance use of prescription stimulants like Ritalin, Vyvanse, and Adderall to increase mental focus when studying. These drugs are commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD) patients. When used without a prescription, however, they can be dangerous. But despite the risks, 1 in 5 college students use study drugs to get a short-term energy boost to plow through the dreaded all-nighters” (“Study Drugs”).
Does college really give graduates the tools and knowledge required to succeed? In the article “Where College Fails Us”, author Caroline Bird attempts to argue that college may not be worth as much as people are led to believe. Bird believes that with the rise in college graduates being well above the Department of Labor Statistics anticipated job needs, college is quickly becoming a waste of time. Moreover, several reasons listed depict colleges many shortcomings, including the stress it puts on students and the unrealistic expectations it gives them combined with huge financial burdens. The author believes that the successful college graduates would have been successful regardless of their education, and that the majority of students felt forced to attend. Finally, she states that before wasting your money on a college education the reader should reflect on her article and determine if there is still value in a college experience. Although Caroline Bird presents many persuading arguments against the college experience in her article, I believe her logic to be outdated and generalized, and her content lacking of discrediting information. I disagree that all college graduates are taking dead-end jobs, and universities have withdrawn from the social side of their educational experience.