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Harm Reduction TO

Study Drugs

Also known As:

Bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, lA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers, JIF, kibbles, bits, MPH, pineapple, r-ball, skippy, the smart drug, vitamin R, and limitless pill.

 
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What is it?

Study drugs are prescription stimulant medications that are meant to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and narcolepsy. These drugs can increase concentration and stamina, which has led to their use and misuse by students as a study aid.

How does it work?

Study drugs increase a person’s focus and concentration by mimicking the structures of neurotransmitters in the brain. By mimicking the structures which send messages throughout the body’s nervous system, the brain’s activity is increased. This increase in brain activity results in increased concentration and reduced fatigue.

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What does it look like?

Study drugs can come in pill or capsule form and are taken orally, usually with food. The effects of these drugs and the length that these effects last vary depending on type.

Some of the more common study drugs include:

  • Ritalin (lasts 3-4 hours)

  • Adderall (lasts 8-12 hours)

  • Vyvanse (lasts 8-12 hours)

  • Focalin (lasts 8-12 hours)

  • Modafinil (lasts 8 - 12 hours)

Is there a safe dose?

If you have a prescription for study drugs, a safe dose will be whatever your doctor or pharmacist recommended. If you have acquired your drugs on the illicit market, there is no safe dose because you will not know the contents or potency of the drug.

As with most drugs, a safe dose is dependent on factors such as the individual’s tolerance and biology. That being said, higher doses of study drugs have been found to have the opposite effect than intended—and can cause agitation, restlessness, and depression in both children and adults.

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Effects      

Study drugs are stimulants which produce a variety of desirable and undesirable mental and physical effects. At high doses and with prolonged use, study drugs can be very dangerous and even deadly.

DESIRED Mental Effects include:

  • Increased alertness

  • Heightened cognitive control

  • Faster reaction times

  • Reduced fatigue

  • Increased attention and concentration

  • Increased memory I/O—Input/Output

Side effects and cautions

SIDE EFFECTS At LOW DOSES:

  • Agitation and restlessness

  • Trouble sleeping

  • Dry mouth

  • Suppression of appetite

  • Weight loss

SIDE EFFECTS AT HIGH DOSES:

  • Nervousness

  • Diarrhea

  • High blood pressure and increased heart rate

  • Psychosis

  • Seizures

  • Stroke

  • Sudden cardiac death

ADDICTION

When used frequently, study drugs can result in addiction, physical and psychological dependence, and withdrawal symptoms.

(Tackett, 2019)

Therapeutic Uses?

Study drugs are prescribed to those diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, and other attention disorders. By replicating neurotransmitters in the brain, these drugs increase a person’s ability to focus, stay alert, and pay attention. These drugs are also used to treat narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder, by helping a person stay awake during the day.

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Harm Reduction Tips

to reduce the possible harms of sTUDy drugs, the following is suggested byThe University of Texas at Austin (2018):

  • Eat regularly

  • Maintain a consistent sleep schedule

  • Ensure a safe and reliable drug source

  • Seek medical advice and research side effects and drug interactions. Just because something is prescription grade (or looks like it is) does not mean that it is safe

  • Take study drugs orally, and avoid higher-risk means of ingestion such as snorting or injecting

  • Avoid taking with MAO Inhibitors (anti-depressants)

To avoid feeling the need to use study drugs, get sleep, eat well, spread out your work, and de-stress with exercise or meditation.

Legal Status: Use, Possession, & Distribution

Most study drugs are class IV drugs under the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This means that they are legal if you have a prescription provided to you by a physician and you obtain them from a pharmacy.

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References

‌ADDERALL (2017). ADERALL(CII). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/011522s040lbl.pdf

The University of Texas at Austin. (2018). Study Drugs. Retrieved from https://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/studydrugs.html

Tackett, B. (2019). What you need to know about study drugs. Retrieved from https://www.projectknow.com/prescription-drugs/study-drugs/