Popping pills to get 'higher' grades
TRI-CITIES -- A dangerous college trend is growing in the Tri-Cities. KEPR learned CBC is seeing more students turning to attention- deficit drugs like Adderall and Ritalin.
Students say they are feeling the pressure to succeed and looking for an extra edge.
Hitting the books is stressful for students like Dustin Petragallo.
"Ya know, the night before a final, you gotta cram and get it all in," says Dustin. He's focused hard on trying to get the grades to transfer to a four year school.
"It's just an overwhelming feeling because you have so much to do," he says. Students told KEPR some are selling it on campus for up to ten-dollars a pill. But many students say they've heard of others taking chances to get their own prescription.
"If you know the symptoms of someone who has ADHD and tell the doctor they'll write you a prescription," one student tells KEPR.
When taken regularly by someone who doesn't need it, it can have life-threatening effects.
"I've actually seen people end up in the hospital from it... From taking too much," Dustin shared.
Some would say that experimenting is just a part of college. But counselors tell KEPR the pills have a dependency that lasts long after your college years.
To curb the likelihood of long-term abuse, teachers and counselors at CBC are hosting open forums for students. They want to create a safe space to talk about why and how they use Adderall as a study aid, and the pressures that come with college success. The goal is to change study habits, so there isn't a need for pills at all.
Dustin hopes coffee can be a simpler choice when needed. Dustin laughs, "I actually have a test tomorrow and I got a lot of math to do tonight."
Popping pills to get high... grades. The fast-paced drugs are becoming more popular outside of schools, too. Energy suckers and breath strips have hit stores and the FDA is even working to approve inhaled caffeine.
Students say they are feeling the pressure to succeed and looking for an extra edge.
Hitting the books is stressful for students like Dustin Petragallo.
"Ya know, the night before a final, you gotta cram and get it all in," says Dustin. He's focused hard on trying to get the grades to transfer to a four year school.
"It's just an overwhelming feeling because you have so much to do," he says. Students told KEPR some are selling it on campus for up to ten-dollars a pill. But many students say they've heard of others taking chances to get their own prescription.
"If you know the symptoms of someone who has ADHD and tell the doctor they'll write you a prescription," one student tells KEPR.
When taken regularly by someone who doesn't need it, it can have life-threatening effects.
"I've actually seen people end up in the hospital from it... From taking too much," Dustin shared.
Some would say that experimenting is just a part of college. But counselors tell KEPR the pills have a dependency that lasts long after your college years.
To curb the likelihood of long-term abuse, teachers and counselors at CBC are hosting open forums for students. They want to create a safe space to talk about why and how they use Adderall as a study aid, and the pressures that come with college success. The goal is to change study habits, so there isn't a need for pills at all.
Dustin hopes coffee can be a simpler choice when needed. Dustin laughs, "I actually have a test tomorrow and I got a lot of math to do tonight."
Popping pills to get high... grades. The fast-paced drugs are becoming more popular outside of schools, too. Energy suckers and breath strips have hit stores and the FDA is even working to approve inhaled caffeine.
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