Hall - Stimulants - Attitudes of the Culture

 - Stimulants -
Attitudes of the Culture

[Image] Retrieved from https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-benefits-of-framing-culture-as-a-management-system/


College students are known for their experimental use of drugs and alcohol at this particular stage in their lives, but are they interested in stimulant use? "The non-medical use of stimulants for academic performance enhancement is becoming a more common practice among college and university students" (Ponnet et al., 2015). It appears that most college students seek the use of stimulants not to get a high or escape reality, but with the belief that it will help them focus and concentrate on their studies. This attitude can greatly influence a group of college students. For example, if JoAnn experiments with stimulants and feels she retained more information while studying for an exam, then finds out she scored better than she typically does, she then shares this with her friends who now want to see if they can benefit from stimulant use. They experiment, pass the idea on, and it spreads quickly.

College Students and Stimulants

  • There is a positive association between students’ attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and their intention to use stimulants for academic performance enhancement.

  • Students with more psychological distress are more inclined to use stimulants for academic performance enhancement.

  • Students with higher levels of procrastination are more likely to use stimulant medication for academic performance enhancement.

  • Students who report substance use and higher levels of alcohol use are more intended to use stimulants for academic performance enhancement.
    (Ponnet et al., 2015).


    [Image] Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/03/01/some-good-news-about-college-student-engagement/?sh=21db70c21101

    • How college students attitudes compares to the general public

    The general publics view on stimulants can vary, depending on what kind. Both college students and the general public view some stimulants (such as nicotine or caffeine), to be a completely normal substance to consume every day. To the general public, stimulants that have been prescribed (such as Adderall), should only be used as necessary. These stimulants get criticism even when prescribed because they are often for younger children (with ADHD). This raises concern over long-term effects and potential abuse. College students, on the other hand, tend to have less concern and are more open to experimenting, even if they're not prescribed to them. Some college students do not see the potential harm and focus solely in the temporary benefit of potential academic support. To the general public, illicit stimulants such as cocaine is intolerable while college students may be more open to experimentation with these substances as well. The CMAJ calls on universities and colleges to create education campaigns that debunk myths and expose risks (Boyle, 2011).

    Myths and misconceptions of stimulants

    • "Taking stimulants will help you achieve better grades". This can be a misconception. Students try stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall because they enhance alertness and attention, but it's a myth that they improve academic performance. The vast majority of evidence shows that stimulants offer no cognitive improvements over placebos in healthy individuals (Boyle, 2011). Other studies show how stimulants do not help in learning new information or in performing new tasks (Boyle, 2011).

    • "A person cannot become addicted to stimulants". This is a myth. Prescription stimulant misuse can lead to a substance use disorder, which takes the form of addiction in severe cases, even when used as prescribed by a doctor (NIDA, 2018).

    • "Stimulant use is protective against future substance abuse". This can be a misconception. The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA), did not find that stimulant use provided any protective effect from subsequent substance use or abuse at follow-up (McLennan, 2017).

    • "It doesn't matter which way someone takes stimulants". This is a myth. Effects can be more pronounced in those who snort or inject stimulants (Boyle, 2011). Injection drug use is associated with substantially more substance abuse-related problems, including a higher prevalence of abuse/dependence, unemployment, and co-occurring mental and physical disorders (Novak & Kral, 2011).

    [Image] Retrieved from https://www.serenitylightrecovery.com/addiction-treatment-blog/the-long-term-effects-of-stimulants/


    References

    Boyle, T. (2011, September 7). Illicit stimulant use risky for college students, journal warns; Calls ability of Ritalin, Adderall to boost grades a 'pervasive myth'. The Toronto Star. https://advance-lexis-com.bakerezproxy.palnet.info/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5CWD-T6T1-JBTY-W49G-00000-00&context=1516831.

    McLennan, J. D. (2017). It’s More Complicated than Myth Busting: Parents Deciding About Stimulant Use for their Children. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(2), 68–69.

    NIDA. (2018, June 6). Prescription Stimulants Drug Facts. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-stimulants

    Novak, S. P., & Kral, A. H. (2011). Comparing injection and non-injection routes of administration for heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine users in the United States. Journal of addictive diseases, 30(3), 248–257. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2011.581989

    Ponnet, K., Wouters, E., Walrave, M., Heirman, W., & Van Hal, G. (2015). Predicting Students’ Intention to use Stimulants for Academic Performance Enhancement. Substance Use & Misuse, 50(3), 275–282. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2014.952446

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