April Can Be the Cruelest Month

Posted on April 11, 2012 by MyStudentBody

Spring is a time of year when students may be at higher risk for stress and suicide.

The spring semester brings increased academic pressure in the form of final papers, final exams, and final grades. Students approaching graduation may worry about finding jobs, getting into graduate programs, and losing friends as they head their separate ways.

Drugs and alcohol can add to the dangers of spring. Some students drink or take drugs in an attempt to cope with stress. Others will try “study drugs” in the hope of improving their performance on exams, auditions, and job interviews. But using these drugs can trigger irrational behavior in people for whom they haven’t been prescribed, and drugs and alcohol are frequently involved in suicide attempts.

MyStudentBody’s Student Center has information for students on managing stress, the risks of study drugs and self-medication. We’ve also recently updated entries on coping with depression and what to do about suicidal thoughts—your own or someone else’s. We also have information for campus administrators on intervention programming for depression and suicide.

To access the information, go to www.mystudentbody.com, login with your username and password, and click on the Student Center tab at the top of the page.

Additional questions? Contact us.

Photo credit: http://pnhw.psychiatryonline.org/content/45/16/7.1.full

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How to Help Students Understand the Risks of “Study Drugs”

Posted on May 16, 2011 by MyStudentBody

Contributed by Donna Wentworth

Drawing of prescription drug bottles

For college students facing the stress of final exams, taking a “study drug,” a medication usually used for ADHD, might seem like no big deal. After all, if their friends are taking it with no side effects, why shouldn’t they?

Daniel Gittins, AOD coordinator at Duquesne University, warns students that prescription medications are intended only for the individual they are prescribed to and no one else.

For “person A,” he explains, a medication like Ritalin® will have primary benefits, but also secondary effects such as “elevated blood pressure, faster heart rate, etc.” But if “person B” borrows the medication without considering their own medical history – such as a family history of high blood pressure, stress, or heart concerns – “the risks can be far more significant.”

How can you get this message across to students? Here are three strategies you can try:

Got Drugs? Take Them Back. Tackle the problem at the community level by participating in a take-back program such as the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day last month. The FDA has additional information about the safe disposal of prescription medications.
Student, Know Thyself. MyStudentBody works at the individual level, using scientifically validated methods to help students understand the risks of misusing prescription medications. It also gives them practical information about how to safely manage their medications if they are using them for medical reasons.
Parental Guidance Suggested. Help prevent abuse of study drugs before next year’s freshmen show up on campus by reaching out to their parents. MyStudentBody-Parent, an important component of our program, is designed to help parents communicate effectively with students about alcohol and other drugs, including prescription medications. You can log in to the program to access a newly updated, print-ready companion guide, College-bound: Strategies for Parenting Your First-year College Student, and hand it out during orientation.

*MyStudentBody administrators -> If you have questions about how to use MyStudentBody to support your drug abuse prevention efforts, we encourage you to contact Amy Cavender, our Implementation Specialist, by email or phone at (800) 848-3895, ext. 205.

Overheard On Campus: Why is it risky to share prescription medication if two people have the same condition?

Posted on April 18, 2011 by MyStudentBody

Contributed by Brooke Vanevenhoven, R.N., M.S.N., A.P.N.P., & Daniel Gittins, M.A.
Introduction by Tyler Achilles, B.A.

Valid question. Unless you know for sure that you absolutely have the same condition (and you’re not just self-diagnosing and/or self-medicating), then I would definitely think it risky to take a medication prescribed to someone else. Even if you’ve been properly diagnosed for the same condition, it’s still risky because different people require different dosages. Did I also mention it’s illegal to share prescription medications? Yeah, illegal. But I bet a lot of students don’t know that. I’ll let the experts elaborate on what I’m trying to say …

Brooke Vanevenhoven, a nurse practitioner at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, says …

On the surface it seems harmless for two people to share medication for the same condition. I hear this so often in my practice: “My friend has ADD so I tried her medication and it worked really well.” In some instances, that may be the case, but it doesn’t make it a safe habit to get into. For one thing, it’s illegal to share prescription medications. The prescription is written and intended only for the patient whose name is on the bottle. Next, if your friend is truly benefiting from his or her medication, is it right to take it? Doesn’t he or she need it? These issues just scratch the surface in terms of problems that could arise.

Now think of your own body. Do you know if you are allergic to any components of the medication you are sharing with your friend? Have you actually been diagnosed with the same condition or do you just suspect that you have the symptoms? Mental health conditions often vary in their presentation. ADHD and anxiety present similarly, and without diagnosis by a trained professional, you may take ADHD medication that would actually make your anxiety symptoms much worse. Finally, you need to consider possible side effects and medication interactions. If you’re taking another prescription or over-the-counter medication, you could be putting yourself at risk for negative medication interaction. Certain medications can put a patient at risk for weight gain, insomnia, or even cardiac arrythmia.

Bottom line, do not take medication that isn’t prescribed to you and don’t share the medication that is. See your provider, have your symptoms evaluated, and use the treatment that is recommended for you. If you’re dissatisfied with your current treatment, discuss alternatives with your provider before trying them on your own.

Daniel Gittins, coordinator of alcohol and drug programs at Duquesne University, says …

Prescriptions are given to one individual at a time. There are very real risks associated with medications. Just listen to the commercials for prescriptions on TV; the first part of the commercial is about potential benefits, and the second part is a list of risks and side effects. Even if the side effects are slight, they are real. A medication is prescribed with the understanding that the medical personnel know your medical history. They don’t know the history of all the other people you choose to share the medication with.

An example: if a doctor prescribes a stimulant, that medication will have primary benefits but also secondary effects, such as elevated blood pressure, faster heart rate, etc. For person A, whom the medication is prescribed to, it’s assumed that the medical benefits outweigh the risks of the secondary effects. If person B borrows person A’s medication, and is unfamiliar with their medical history – such as family history of high blood pressure, stress, or heart concerns – the risks can be far more significant for person B. Essentially, it’s dangerous to share your medications, so be careful of the risks.

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From what the experts are saying, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to share your prescription medications with anyone. If you have shared them in the past, I would make sure you don’t do it again in the future. I mean you could be hurting your friend, and no one wants to do that, right? Write a comment below or click here for more Overheard On Campus posts.

Overheard On Campus: I take prescription medication for my ADHD. Should I be worried about becoming addicted to it?

Posted on March 1, 2011 by MyStudentBody

Contributed by Dr. Chris S. Hayes, M.D., & Brooke Vanevenhoven, R.N., M.S.N., A.P.N.P.
Introduction by Tyler Achilles, B.A.

I would assume if you take your medications as prescribed by your doctor that they would do your body good, but I’m not a doctor and you should never assume. If I had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), then I would probably be worried about becoming addicted to my medication, too. I keep hearing more and more stories about people getting addicted to their prescriptions. My guess, however, is that the people who end up in rehab are not taking their medications as prescribed and are misusing them, which I’m sure you’re not. Luckily, one of our experts IS a doctor and can help with this question.

Dr. Chris S. Hayes, a physician at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, says …

Although many medications used for the treatment of ADHD are stimulants which can be and sometimes are abused, if you have been correctly diagnosed your risk of addiction is minimal. Because persons with ADHD have brains that are wired differently than the rest of the population, for most of them stimulants act more as calming and focusing agents than as “uppers.” While people without ADHD are more likely to feel a rush of energy and euphoria when they take stimulants, prompting them to want to take them again to feel the same rush, people with ADHD often describe their response to stimulants as much more subtle. They can get a lot more done and their focus improves, but they usually don’t get the rush. In fact, many of them become sleepy while on meds if they’re not doing anything.

Since stimulants do help people focus on studying even if they don’t have ADHD, those who take stimulants who don’t have ADHD are at much higher risk for abuse and addiction, it’s important for adults who can’t focus to get a complete psychological evaluation. Stress, anxiety, and depression are only a few of the things that can impair a person’s ability to focus. If it’s not ADHD, stimulants might seem to help at first, but they’re risky and don’t get to the root of the problem. If, on the other hand, the problem really is ADHD, stimulants (and improved organizational skills) are sometimes just what the doctor ordered.

Brooke Vanevenhoven, a nurse practitioner, says …

There are several medications available to treat ADHD. If you are concerned about addiction, you are probably referring to the stimulants. Most commonly prescribed are amphetamine salts and methylphenidate. These medications are classified as controlled substances. When used under the direction of a qualified provider and taken according to the directions, the risk for addiction is fairly low. The problem with these medications is that many people, especially college students, have been using them without a prescription or differently than the prescription directions in an effort to stay up all night studying or to achieve a “high.” Even when used appropriately, stimulant medications have a risk of causing anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations. Less frequently, they can even lead to cardiac problems.

If your provider thinks you would benefit from a stimulant prescription, it is very important to observe yourself for side effects including heart palpitations or racing heart rate. Do not share your medication with friends or family, and use it only according to the doctor’s orders. Never take more than the prescription indicates, and if you choose to stop the medication, talk it over with your provider first. If you remain concerned about use of stimulants to treat your ADHD, there are other options that your provider can choose. Additionally, it might help to see a counselor who can help you identify non-medical interventions for coping with the symptoms of ADHD.

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Bottom line: If you’ve been correctly diagnosed with ADHD, then you have nothing to worry about. If you’re using the medications without a prescription, then there’s a risk of becoming addicted. Write a comment below or click here for more Overheard On Campus posts.

Overheard On Campus: Is it okay to use a friend’s ADHD meds to help study for finals?

Posted on December 14, 2010 by MyStudentBody

It’s finals time again and that means many students will be studying like crazy or pulling “all-nighters” to finish up projects and papers over the next couple weeks. Some students turn to their friends who have prescription medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) to get an added edge during this stressful time. Medications like Adderall and Ritalin, frequently called “study drugs”, are in high demand on college campuses during finals because students say they help them stay up late to cram for a test or keep them focused. This is isn’t anything new – countless studies and surveys have been done on college campuses over the last decade that show an increase in the amount of people using these drugs without a prescription.

Photo credit: Mystudentbody.com

We recently got a question from a student on our website about whether or not it’s okay to use their friend’s prescription medications to help with studying during finals. Here are some things for students to consider and administrators to share from one of advisory board members, Tavis Glassman, Ph.D.:

Photo credit: MyStudentBody.com

“The key to getting good grades involves attending class regularly, keeping up with the readings, and preparing for tests well ahead of time. Cramming and staying up late the night before an exam may hinder academic success. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drugs are prescribed for people who have very serious problems concentrating to the point where they could not pass their course work without them. ADD and ADHD drugs also decrease the probability of experiencing unintentional injury, such as car accidents, among those clinically diagnosed with these disorders.

Persons who take prescription stimulants for ADD or ADHD without a prescription may experience adverse health consequences, especially if they have any underlying health issues or drug allergies. Also remember, drug experimentation for some leads to abuse. For example, certain students who use ADD/ADHD medicines start taking the drugs in greater dosages and with increasing frequency – a hallmark indicator of addiction. Remember the next test, paper, project is forthcoming, but you only have one body, nevermind the ethical considerations of giving yourself a potential, unfair advantage.“

Check out these other resources for more information:

Of course taking someone else’s prescription drug is illegal, but it can seem pretty harmless when you know lots of people who have done it and they seem to be just fine. In general, there are always potential dangers associated with taking a medication that isn’t prescribed to you. When a physician writes a prescription, they will assess other medical conditions that could be negatively affected by the drug, or if the patient takes other medications that can interact poorly with the drug. If you take a medication without a prescription you run the risk of a problem.

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