The illicit, black market, consumption of Adderall on college campuses in the US has reached epidemic status.
Adderall is the most widely abused scheduled Class II controlled substance consumed by young adults to gain focus and executive function while attending college.
The Adderall epidemic on college campuses is also referred as “academic doping” for the shortsighted purpose of increasing performance on college exams and assignments.
Adderall is used illicitly with opiate and benzodiazepine prescription medications including Xanax, Klonopin and Valium. Adderall abuse with other prescription medications may lead to addiction which requires professional treatment to rehabilitate.
Although the short term effects of Adderall may increase executive function, the long term side effects are now known.
More serious long term effects due to higher dosing and abuse may include extreme anxiety leading to depression as well as aggressive or paranoid behavior.
A more alarming and related statistic regarding behavioral challenges on college campuses involves suicide. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in the US college student population.
Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in Washington DC revealed a 270 percent increase, during a five year period, in emergency room visits due to the abuse of Adderall medications mixed with other chemical substances including opiates.
This statistic was collected by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) and involved individuals over the age of 18. Academic doping on college campuses requires immediate intervention to prevent abuse as well as long term addiction.
Improving cognitive and executive function is possible by optimizing gut health, exercise and appropriate nootropic supplementation. Start the Brain Health & Wellness steps into your daily routine, and you are on your way.
Seven tips for brain Health and Wellness:
1. Encourage yeast-free, gluten-free, and GMO-free diet and increase fiber to 40grams daily. Excessive consumption of yeast, gluten and GMO foods adversely affect digestion and elimination of toxins from the G.I. tract. Fiber helps regulate blood sugar as well as detoxification.
2. Drink at least 40 ounces cold purified or distilled water. Have your home water supply tested annually by an independent laboratory for chemicals as well as heavy metals
3. Increase raw organic radishes and broccoli with sea salt three times a week. Isothionates contained within these vegetables help eliminate yeast from the gut and G.I. tract
4. Take one tablespoonful raw organic apple cider vinegar once a day with small amount cold juice. Malic acid is the key ingredient to help decalcify the blood, increase digestion, metabolism and detoxification as well as increase the intracellular process of energy production. At three times the daily dose, malic acid may help patients with fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
5. A quarter teaspoonful crushed cloves mixed into applesauce at bedtime twice a week, intestinal parasite prevention.
6. Cardio exercise four times a week, 40 minutes each session.
7. Supplement your diet with plant based vitamins, minerals and herbs. Patients with chronic illness should have new blood work and physical completed after approximately two months of a Health and Wellness Intervention.
Secondly, over the counter (OTC) nootropic supplementation is a safe alternative to stimulant amphetamines. Nootropic compounds help the brain increase memory capacity, focus and executive function.
Unlike Adderall, there are no addictive properties and nootropics work by increasing neurotransmitter pathway function within the brain.
The most effective nootropics act on the acetylcholine, glutamate, and dopamine neurotransmitter pathways.
For more information to determine the appropriate nootropic supplementation, email FrankGranett@CAOOY.org for an individually designed nutritional supplementation program based on your medical history.
Kings Court Castle at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, Michigan is hosting a Health and Wellness Forum on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., free admission.
Frank is a board certified pharmacist with over 28 years consultative experience specializing in ADHD stimulant and psychiatric medications. He is the author of The American Epidemic:Solutions for Over-medicating Our Youth , founder of the 501c3 non-profit educational charity Coalition Against Overmedicating Our Youth (CAOOY), and Director of Pharmacy Operations at an adult psychiatric hospital in southeast Michigan.