Take a pill, pass the test? The growing problem in schools

Salt Lake City - A commonly discussed question wonders if a pill could help students get good grades, get into college and compete at the top, should they take it? The answer is "yes" for most college and even high school students in Utah.

Many students have been using drugs to study, and focus well, but is it okay? This 'study-drug' is becoming a growing issue in Utah schools. Students are purchasing and selling Adderall to one another, daily. It is becoming more and more dependent. Students who are prescribed, legally, to take Adderall are asked to sell the drug, and over 25 percent of the school's students are being charged for abusing the drug. Adderall is known for being used to focus and study for hours with clear recall. It's prescribed for young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Like other amphetamines, Adderall carries a "black box" warning from the Food and Drug Administration, saying it has a "high potential for abuse" that could result in "severe psychological or physical dependence." Many students nonchalantly take the drug as a substitute for energy drinks, such as Red Bull, but it's that erratic behavior and unusual energy that makes Adderall dangerous. Taking Adderall without being prescribed, or having a doctor's permission, is called drug abuse. Even if it is, indeed, for a good cause.