Adderall poses threat to college students

By

Justin Ecung

            Staying up late to prepare for final exams or to complete final projects is a difficult task for most college students. Consequently, many students look to coffee or energy drinks to help them stay awake and alert. However, rapidly growing numbers of college students are being prescribed Adderall, a drug normally used by individuals with attention deficit disorder. Students claim that the drug helps them remain focused while studying late at night. Unfortunately, many students have formed a dependency upon the drug and abuse it.

            Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant; meaning it affects chemicals in the brain and nerves to contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.  By reducing the various urges a student may have while studying, the drug allows them to remain focused on the task at hand. Furthermore, those who chose to take the drug have the potential of forming a dependency upon the stimulant.

            Nevertheless, some students feel that the many benefits of Adderall outweigh the potential risk.

            April, a sophomore at Utah State University, has had an Adderall prescription for the past two years. April claims that although she doesn’t use her prescription often, she can notice significant differences when studying without it.

            “When I’m on Adderall and I’m looking over some notes from class or reading a book, I don’t think about anything else but what I’m studying,” April said. “I forget about everything around me and my surroundings. But the times I decide not to take a pill I definitely notice all of the time I waste: people watching or doing whatever. It gives you the boost of energy needed to study when you don’t want to.”

            It’s no secret that Adderall works for college students. April herself is on the honor roll at USU and plans to graduate with honors in two years.

            Due to it’s effectiveness, the drug has quickly become known as a “Smart Drug” that provides students with the ability to study for absurd amounts of time.

Nonetheless, more students are taking Adderall to improve their grades.

            A 2007 survey conducted at 119 colleges and universities across the nation found that up to 25 percent of students enrolled at very competitive schools had used the drug to study.

            The federal government’s National Survey on Drug use and Health, for 2008, discovered that only 6.4 percent of college students had used the drug in the past year. However, college students ages 18 - 22 were twice as likely to abuse Adderall than individuals who weren’t students from the same age group.

            Anthony Park, a drug abuse counselor at the Bear River Health Department in Logan, Utah, believes that Adderall is quite possibly one of the easiest drugs for college students to become addicted to.

            “It’s a highly addictive substance and when you play with addictive substances, you ultimately get burned,” Park said. “For all intents and purposes, Adderall is speed. You’re putting something into your body that’s going to make you think you’re fine when you’re not. And the next thing you know, you’ll be spinning out of control.”

           

            That’s precisely what happened to Bryan, a former student at Boise State University.

            Bryan, was a sophomore at BSU, and regularly used Adderall to aide in his studies. After a few weeks of taking the drug, he soon became dependent upon it to complete his homework.

            “You become dependent on it, because you’ll use it one night to study for a test like I did and the next thing you know, you’re using it every night to study for a test,” Bryan said.

            Bryan suffered from panic attacks, mood swings, insomnia and depression. Consequently, it was too much for him to deal with and his grades plummeted.

            “It just snuck up on me,” Bryan said. “I went from being on an academic scholarship at a great school to being on academic probation within six months, to being asked to withdraw from the university.”

            Bryan is currently recovering from his Adderall use, and plans to attend USU in the summer of 2012.

             

           

             

College students need breakfast

By

Justin Ecung

            Breakfast is the most important, yet most often skipped meal of the day. The majority of college students at Utah State University often find themselves missing the first meal of the day because they don’t see the need to make time for it. Nevertheless, a healthy breakfast is not only a great way to start the day, but studies show that it can also improve focus and concentration in the classroom.

            Katherine Wong, a junior studying mechanical engineering at USU, claims she misses breakfast due to her busy schedule and early classes. Consequently, the Washington native either gets a quick snack in the morning or just waits until lunch to get something to eat.

            “It’s tough to get up and make a quick healthy breakfast,” Wong said. “I have a lot of early classes this semester, and I just value my sleep a little bit more than eating. Most of the time I’ll just skip breakfast and wait until lunch to eat or I’ll grab some candy or something to eat on the way to class.”

            A 2008 study performed by Dr. Gregory Phillips found that students who ate breakfast had higher grade point averages and performed better on exams.

           

            The study examined the performance of 1,259 college students on one exam. The researches found that 70 percent of students who ate breakfast scored fairly well and passed the exam. However, only 50 percent of students who chose not to eat breakfast scored a passing a grade.

            Nonetheless, Phillip’s study simply asked students whether or not they had eaten breakfast. But exactly what a student chooses to eat for breakfast does make a difference.

            Edward Morra has taught nutrition courses at the University of Arizona for the last eight years. Morra emphasized the importance of a well-balanced breakfast for college students, especially the day of an exam.

            “What happens is the night before an exam students will stay up late and get up early before class to study,” Morra said. “Although the morning is the best time to study, we have to turn our brains on. When we wake up we have to realize that we haven’t eaten for eight hours. That’s why we need a well-balanced breakfast to start our day off right.”

            According to the USU Health and Wellness Center, a well-balanced breakfast includes as many food groups as possible, but most notably fruit.  However, it is important to remain mindful of the amount of calories an individual is consuming.

            Collin Turner, a sophomore studying exercise science at USU, is one of the very few students who prepares breakfast before class.

            “I need to eat breakfast before my morning classes because it wakes me up, and helps me pay attention,” Turner said. “Not to mention I need to eat and can’t really afford to skip a meal or else I know when it is time for lunch I’ll be starving.”

            Research presented at the Endocrine Society annual meeting in June of 2011 reiterated the importance of the first meal of the day.

            The study led by Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz, a clinical professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, found that when people wake up in the morning, their bodies are programmed to find food.

            “When you wake up in the morning your body is primed to look for food,” Jakubowicz said in a VCU interview. “Your metabolism is revved up, and levels of cortisol and adrenaline are at their highest. Your brain needs energy right away, and if you do eat or eat too little, the brain finds other fuel sources which pulls energy for muscles, destroying muscle tissue in the process.”

            The study also surveyed the eating habits of individuals on academic probation at VCU. The survey noted that 86 percent of students on probation did not eat breakfast regularly.

            With finals week only a few days away at USU, it’s important that students take time to eat a healthy breakfast to assure they perform to the best of their abilities.

           

College students realize benefits of exercise

By

Justin Ecung

            According to the 22nd annual America’s Health Rankings, Utah is the nation’s seventh healthiest state. Consequently, as more individuals become health conscious, there has been an increased focus on the importance of exercise. Most people exercise to control their weight and to get in better physical shape. However, at Utah State University, students have also realized that working out is a great way to relieve stress as they prepare for final exams.

            Katherine Pullot, a senior studying mathematics at USU, is more stressed than usual this fall semester. Unfortunately, not only does she have five finals, but her relationship with a close friend has recently ended unexpectedly. Nevertheless, she has found that running helps.

            “I guess in a weird way, when I go for a run I feel like I’m just leaving everything behind and moving forward,” Pullot said. “It’s nice because not only am I able to forget about everything that’s bugging me, but I actually get to burn some calories too.”

            Staff members at the Nelson field house on the USU campus have noticed more students coming to workout this week – the week before finals. Sarah Clayborne, a junior studying physical therapy at USU, works at the front desk and doesn’t mind the new crowds at the gym.

            “Things are pretty hectic in the evenings but overall things aren’t that bad,” Clayborne said. “So far, we’ve had 26 more students swipe their identification cards to get into the gym this week than last.”

            However, one must consider that the age of college students spreads over multiple decades and various lifestyles.

            A 2010 study found that short bursts of intense exercise can significantly lower the effects of stress according to doctors at the University of California at San Francisco.

            Lead researcher of the UCSF study, Dr. Eli Puterman, examined 63 older women, the majority of which came from a similar background and lifestyle. Puterman found that those women who exercised for at least 40 minutes a day three times a week had lower overall stress levels than those who didn’t.

            “Physical activity is so good for you and stress is bad for you, but the new study shows the stress-buffering effects of physical activity in those who are chronically stressed,” Putterman said in a UCSF interview. “People know stress is bad for the heart and makes you look tired and haggard and make us more vulnerable to infections. There is so much accumulating evidence that links stress to health, so to show that there is something we can do when we are stressed that can delay or buffer the impact is exciting.”

           

This is great news to the majority of college students who are stressed across the nation; approximately 70 percent of students according to an Associated Press study.

A University of Southern California study lead by Dr. Garryl Bohannon discovered a direct correlation between the levels of stress in undergraduate students and their grade point averages.

Bohannon surveyed 50 undergraduates at USC and found that 66 percent of the students felt they encountered daily stresses. The survey asked questions about the stress levels of students and what they did to relieve themselves of the various symptoms. The study indicated that those who exercised at least twice a week performed significantly better on midterm and final exams.

“My research team and I understood that stress levels would play a vital role in the performance of college students, and wanted to explore ways to alleviate it as much as possible,” Bohannon said. “We found that exercise was a great stress reliever as well as meditation. We are currently working with the exercise science and biology departments to specify exactly why exercise and meditation help with stress.”

            According to the Lehigh Valley Health Network, when individuals are placed in a mentally or physically stressful situation, their heart rate increases, as well as their blood pressure, stress hormones and other responses the body may have. Exercise helps reduce both cardiovascular and neurological reactivity to stress, therefore allowing an individual to better cope with daily stressors. Consequently, a proper exercise routine can help individuals react in a calmer fashion when encountered with any type of stress.

             

            

Most college students are stressed

By

Justin Ecung

            The late nights spent studying, the pressure to exceed academic expectations, to more sinister thoughts of depression and suicide and everything in between. There are too many reasons why the majority of college students are stressed out. With final exams quickly approaching at Utah State University and other college campuses, students face the most stressful time of the semester.

            Jessica Hsu is a student–athlete at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. She has three finals this coming Friday and has struggled with time management these past few weeks.

            “Its tough, most days it feels like there just isn’t enough time to get everything done,” Hsu said. “Between rugby practice, work and classes I just don’t find the time to study; so I stay up late to catch up on my assignments. The next day, not only am I stressed, but tired from not getting enough rest as well. “

            A recent study conducted by the Associated Press and mtvU, a television station broadcasted on most college campuses, found that Hsu is not alone. Rather, she is one of the countless number of individuals who find themselves worrying about school or other aspects of life as they make they’re daily treks to class.

            The study conducted at 300 universities across the nation produced surprising results: 40 percent of college students admit to feeling stressed often, 20 percent feel stressed most of the time, 20 percent experience daily stress, 10 percent felt they weren’t affected by stress and 10 percent had thoughts of suicide.

            Stress is a considerably large problem for the majority of college students throughout the country. However, many instructors feel that it is important students are able to successfully complete assignments despite a strict deadline.

            Mathew LaPlante, a first-year journalism teacher at USU, expects the most of the students in his class, and plans for them to meet his expectations.

“The business of communication doesn’t stop in stressful situations,” LaPlante said. “As a writer in the real world, you’re forced to write at the worst possible times; when things are all over the place and you’re under pressure. I place my students under a small amount of stress not simply for them to experience it, but to show them that they are capable of writing great articles in tough situations.”

            Although some instructors may see it necessary to place their students in stressful situations, too much stress can lead to various problems associated with an individual’s emotional and physical health. These complications can then produce a more severe consequence of overwhelming stress -- depression. 

            In a 2007 survey conducted by the National College Health Assessment, 17,000 students were asked about their experiences with depression.

            The survey found 25 percent of students felt so depressed they claimed it was difficult to function at least three to eight times in the past school year, while 21 percent reported that they seriously considered suicide: the second leading cause of death amongst college students.

            Accordingly, universities encourage students to take breaks from studying for finals. USU will host a De-Stress Fest in the Taggart Student Center on Wednesday evening. Students will have the chance to enjoy some free food and dance the night away while taking a break from studying.

            McKenna Wilson, a freshmen majoring in biology at USU, plans to attend the event and is looking forward to the needed break from studying.

            “We could all use a break from spending day after day in the library. Wednesday night will be nice because I’ll be able to put down the books for a night and just enjoy some time with my friends,” Wilson said.

            Nevertheless, despite study breaks, some college students still experience an overwhelming amount of stress. It is recommended that these individuals seek immediate help. All college campuses have counselors available for students to speak to about exploring ways to combat depression and stress.

           

           

            

Students use energy drinks for extra boost

By

Justin Ecung

              It’s a Thursday evening and Utah State University junior, Stephanie Rodriguez, makes her way to the Merril-Crazier library on campus. Before finding a nice quite area to study, she makes a quick stop at the library café. Rodriguez purchases a large, green Monster Energy drink and a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese.

            “I hate the taste of coffee,” Rodriguez said. “But I need something to help me stay up late to study.”

            Many students like Rodriguez rely on numerous types of energy drinks to help them stay awake and energized in the weeks prior to finals. It’s understandable that students need help to stay up late, but many of these energy drinks can lead to several dangerous side effects if not consumed in moderation.

            Rachel Lewis, a sophomore at USU, works part-time at the library café. Lewis has noticed a steady increase in the purchases of both coffee and popular energy drinks.

            “The energy drinks are pretty difficult to keep in stock because so many students prefer them over coffee,” Lewis said. “We only have a limited selection right now because many of the more popular brands are already sold out.”

            When safely consumed, these energy drinks can be an effective source of energy. However, a recent 2008 study conducted at the University of Miami by Dr. Steven Lipshultz found that these drinks could pose a larger health threat than originally anticipated.

            The study, published in the medical journal of Pediatrics, stated that some of the side effects of drinking too many energy drinks include nausea, diarrhea and extreme jittery effects often associated with coffee. More severe side effects include heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and in some instances sudden death. Furthermore, Lipshultz and his team of researchers feel that these drinks should be regulated as strictly as tobacco, alcohol and prescription medicines.

            “For most children, adolescents, and young adults, safe levels of consumption have not been established,” Lipshultz said in a 2008 interview released by the UM.

            Although critics of the study feel that the restriction of energy drinks may be excessive, others who have heard the story of Dakota Sailor feel it may be a necessity.

            Sailor was just 18 when he experienced the dangers of energy drinks. The high school senior suffered a mild seizure and was hospitalized for five days after drinking two large Nos energy drinks. According to his family physician, caffeine or ingredients similar to caffeine may have been the cause.

            Sailor’s experience with energy drinks is not at all an isolated incident.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers recently implemented the use of emergency codes to aid emergency response crews. These codes will help track energy drink overdoses and side effects.

Last year, 677 emergency cases were reported in a 2-month period from October through December 2010.  The majority of incidents filed this year involve children and teens: a quarter of which are under the age of six according to a chart posted by the AAPCC.

Dr. Andrew Watkins oversees resident medical students at the Ronald Reagan University of California Los Angeles Medical Center.  Watkins has witnessed a number of teenagers come into the emergency room at the UCLA medical center for energy drink overdoses.

“The majority of the time, kids come in because they had an energy drink earlier in the day and then decided to play basketball or workout,” Watkins said. “It’s dangerous to drink something that has two times the amount of caffeine found in soda followed by any type of physical activity. All this does is elevate your heart rate to an unsafe level. But the most dangerous situations I’ve seen occur when people mix alcohol with these energy drinks.”

The complete range of symptoms is still being investigated; most notably the long-term effects these energy drinks can have on the body. Consequently, most physicians encourage consumers to read the warning labels found on the beverage itself, and to enjoy it in moderation — at the most 1 energy drink a day.

Lack of sleep affects college students

By

Justin Ecung

At colleges across the nation, students and professors alike are quickly realizing the importance of a good night’s sleep. Not only can sufficient sleep help students increase their academic abilities, but it can also improve the athletic performance of student athletes. However, it is difficult for a college student to get enough sleep every night.

            Maya Dukes, a junior studying at Utah State University, has experienced sleep deprivation and the stresses that come along with it.

            “I usually get 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night during the school week because of how much I work and all the studying I have to do,” Dukes said. “It’s rough because I find myself getting tired in the middle of the day, and I won’t have the motivation to go to the library and study. I’ll just want to go home and catch up on some sleep.”

            A 2007 study at St. Lawrence University in Canton New York on sleep-deprived students, found that staying up late to study isn’t quite as effective as most college students believe. All-nighters have actually been proven to diminish an individual’s ability to learn effectively.

            Psychology professor Pamela Thacher, wrote the SLU study and researched the sleeping patterns and grades of 111 students.

            “You can’t do your best work when you’re tired and sleep-deprived,” Thacher said.  “Many students believe that it’s a rite of passage to stay up all night during college and, think it’s kind of fun. But if you use all-nighters, your grade point average is slightly lower than those who choose not to.”

            In a study that appears in the 2009 “Journal of Adolescent Health,” professors at the University of St. Thomas found that only 30 percent of 1,125 students sleep at least 8 hours a night: which is the recommended amount for young adults. Furthermore, 60 percent of these students have disturbed sleep wake patterns, and 68 percent admit that the stresses of school and life keep them awake at night.

The stress and pressure students place on themselves can affect more than just their daily routines, but their quality of rest as well. Some college students assure themselves before an exam by staying up late to study.

            Aja Johnson is a sophomore studying mathematics at the University of Southern California. Johnson sometimes struggles to effectively prepare for her exams and consequently looses sleep.

            “Before a big exam I’ll get really bad test anxiety and loose sleep over it at times. Therefore, I’ve decided to stay up all night to study for exams because it makes me feel good knowing that I’ve really spent time preparing for the test,” said Johnson.

            However, Johnson’s attempt to reassure herself of performing well on her exams isn’t an effective way to study.

            Roxanne Prichard, co-author of the UST study and assistant psychology professor, feels that enough emphasis is not being placed on the importance of sleep on college campuses.

            “Students underestimate the importance of sleep in their daily lives. They forgo sleep during periods of stress, not realizing that they are sabotaging their physical and mental health,” Prichard said.

            The benefits and gains of a restful night can’t only improve the grades of students, but are most notably seen on the athletic field.

            In a recent study conducted at Stanford University, Cheri Mah, a graduate researcher, worked with several players on the school’s basketball team. Mah recommended that 6 players get at least 10 hours of sleep a night, while the others continued their usual sleeping habits. After a 2-week period, Mah noticed that those individuals who got more sleep made more shots and ran faster.

            Athletes who get an extra amount of sleep are more likely to improve their performance in a game,” Mah said. “It’s not common knowledge, because if people understood how much of a difference getting more sleep could make, they’d incorporate it more into their lives.”

           

           

            

Can you drink too much coffee?

By

Justin Ecung

With finals week quickly approaching at Utah State University and colleges across the country, students are staying up later to get more studying done for their exams. Many students turn to coffee as a way to create a few extra hours each day, but very few individuals realize the health effects caffeine can have on the body.

            Becca Decoud, a senior at USU, plans to spend a lot of time studying in the library these upcoming weeks in preparation for finals. The California native has 6 finals, 2 of which are on the same day.

           

            “There are going to be a lot of late nights these next 2 weeks,” Decoud said. “Luckily for me, I have a gift card to Starbucks that I’m hoping will last until the end of the semester. For me, there’s no way I can stay up until 3 o’clock in the morning without coffee or something.”

            Decoud believes she drinks coffee only when she needs to stay up late to study or complete homework assignments. Rarely does she drink it during the day to help her remain attentive in her classes.

           

            Ryan Massey, a political science major at USU, depends on coffee a little more than most busy college students.

            “I’ll probably have 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day,” Massey said. “I work and go to school fulltime so I’m always exhausted because I definitely don’t get enough sleep. Therefore, I’m stuck drinking a ton of coffee just to keep me up and alert during the day. If I have to stay up late to study, I definitely drink more.”

            Rachel Lewis, an employee at the café located on the USU campus, has noticed things being busier than usual as finals week approaches.

            “The late nights are the worst. The mornings are bad too, but there are so many people who come to study here at night. The closer we get to finals week, the busier we get. But I guess that’s expected,” Lewis said.

            The rise for the demand for coffee has not only been observed at café’s on campus, but other places as well. At the two cafeterias at USU, students can use their meal plans to get as much coffee as they want.

            Lindsey Wilshire, customer service manager at one of the cafeterias on the USU campus, has noticed more students drinking coffee in the past few days.

            “It’s always been tough to make sure coffee is readily available to students, but it’s starting to get more and more difficult,” Wilshire said. “Granted it hasn’t gotten too crazy yet, I would say that we’ve definitely had to make more coffee this week than last week.”

            Many college students drink coffee without thinking twice about it. The majority of individuals simply need a way to stay up late at night to study, or to be more attentive in their classes throughout the day. Nevertheless, caffeine dependency can have several adverse health effects.

            Dr. Andrew Watkins oversees resident medical students at the Ronald Reagan University of California Los Angeles Medical Center. Watkins regularly witnesses the dependency of coffee by his residents and constantly cautions them to digest caffeine moderately.

            “I swear everyone drinks coffee these days,” Watkins said. “Everyone needs to stay up to work, study or whatever, and many don’t realize the dangers it can potentially pose. Drinking too much caffeine is never a good thing; there have been kids who have passed away after drinking too many energy drinks. Too much caffeine can cause high blood pressure, an upset stomach, a dependency of the substance and intoxication.”

            In a 2010 study conducted at California State Poly University at Pomona, researchers found that students who drink large amounts of coffee can experience caffeine intoxication. The symptoms of being intoxicated include jitters, heart palpitations and an overall sense of being nervous or anxious. However, such advanced stages of caffeine intoxication are largely due to the many energy drinks that are also readily available to college students.

            

Bigger might be better, but not healthier

By

Justin G. Ecung

            It’s another Tuesday afternoon, and Christopher Larsen, a sophomore at Utah State University, is getting ready for his daily work out at the Nelson Fieldhouse on campus. He opens a large red container and mixes a white powder with water in his plastic water bottle.

            “It doesn’t taste that great, but it gets the job done,” Larsen said.

            Like many individuals who don’t mind extra help to attain their fitness goals, Larsen consumes various workout supplements to give him the energy needed to exercise for two hours a day. However, many of these supplements have several side effects, many of which can be harmful to an individuals overall health. Nevertheless, Larsen and others continue to take these potentially harmful supplements to obtain the physique that themselves and female onlookers have always dreamed of.

            Andrew Cartwright, a former student at USU, used a daily workout routine similar to Larsen’s. Cartwright was taking a pre-workout supplement called Jack3d to help with his workouts until he began noticing several side effects.

            “The first thing I noticed was the acne,” Cartwright said. “It was all over my back and shoulders, but it was a minor inconvenience, especially since I was lifting so much more weight. That’s the hardest thing about these supplements, they improve your workouts so much it’s hard to workout without them, it just isn’t the same.”

            Cartwright continued to take the supplement and his workouts improved every week. Despite the mild side effects, he thought he was in good shape; until a visit to his doctor proved otherwise.

            “I went in for my physical for the Marines and had to provide a urine sample. In my sample they found traces of the protein lining in my kidneys. The doctor was able to determine that it was my daily use of the pre-workout supplement that was affecting my kidneys; I decided to stop taking them,” Cartwright said.

            Cartwright no longer takes any workout supplement, and made the decision to take a break from exercising to allow his body to recuperate.

            Dr. Robert Townsend, specializes in sports medicine and helps athletes with physical therapy in the greater Los Angeles area of California. Townsend has seen a steady rise in the use of supplements by athletes to improve their overall performance in recent years. Although their use can be beneficial, he cautions individuals to use them both sparingly and carefully.

            “Every athlete at every level seeks that competitive edge: something that’s going to put them ahead of the competition,” Townsend said. “But the answer isn’t all of these supplements that are out on the market. If anything the majority of these can do more harm than good, especially to the body’s bladder and kidneys. I encourage individuals not to take them. But if they feel the need to take them, to do so rarely and to stay hydrated.”

            Nevertheless, despite being informed of Cartwright’s situation and Dr. Townsend’s perspective, Larsen does not plan to change his regular workout routine.

            “I know that there are side effects from taking any pre-workout supplement, but I have been drinking lots of water everyday to flush it out of my system. But I have noticed some small side effects, like the acne,” Larsen said.

            Despite the potential health risk, Larsen and others have found themselves in a difficult situation. Many individuals notice a significant difference between working out with and without the pre-workout supplements. Consequently, they continue to take them.