Stimulants
Class of drugs designed to speed up aka stimulate communication between the brain and the body.
What is it?
ADHD meds, cocaine, and methamphetamine don’t sound like they have much in common, but they’re all considered stimulants. ADHD meds like Adderall and Ritalin are considered prescription stimulants. These types of drugs can also be used to treat narcolepsy (a condition where people spontaneously fall asleep).
What does it do?
Stimulants work by increasing brain activity. Prescription stimulants increase the activity of brain chemicals like dopamine, which makes us feel “good,” and norepinephrine, which affects blood vessels, blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, and breathing to make us more alert.
What are the risks?
Taking a friend’s ADHD meds may not seem like a big deal, but it actually comes along with real risks, just like misusing other drugs. Misusing ADHD meds even occasionally—like just around midterms and finals—can be risky. When prescription stimulants aren’t used the way they were prescribed, they can send your nervous system into overdrive, potentially leading to panic and anxiety attacks.
How can we stay safe?
Don’t take prescription stimulants that haven’t been prescribed to you. Maybe you have a huge exam coming up and need to pull an all-nighter to study. But taking someone else’s Adderall or Ritalin isn’t a good idea. “Study drugs” don’t help if you don’t have ADHD—prescription stimulants can actually make it harder to study.
