ADHD Drug Abuse Gets Colleges' Attention

Schools like Connecticut's Fairfield University are warning students about the risk of misusing attention-deficit drugs.

Students needing to stay awake and alert to cram for exams sometimes turn to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs like Adderall or Ritalin for their stimulating effects. To counter the growing problem, Fairfield University is plastering warnings in classrooms, hallways, and bathrooms. At Sacred Heart University, health officials are concerned about students mixing drugs like Adderall with alcohol.

"I have seen the level of abuse increase in the past 10 years," said Sacred Heart counselor Richard Madwid. "It is comparable to all the other substances that are misused."

A 2002 University of Wisconsin study estimated that one of five college students takes Adderall, many for recreational reasons. The Canadian government recently suspended sales of Adderall over concerns about deaths and strokes linked to the drug.

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