Do you thinks students are cheating if they take unprescribed Adderall before a big test?

Taking non-prescribed Adderall would not be a measure of "cheating" as much as it would be a measure of danger and of risk-taking. In fact, my college student will not resort to this since so many factors can come into play--including occasional asthma. Teens are unable to manage their own medicine when it's not prescribed for doctor's orders. Our teens don't yet know how their bodies will react to a medicine like this and how much or little food needs to be taken or surplus hydration. For example, if a soccer student has a cup of coffee, a can of Coke and a Red Bull--all before the big game--and perhaps he doesn't eat anything of substance, the heart might not tolerate the stress of the game and other factors (amount of sleep, heat from the sun etc.). We have noticed a high rate of heart-related conditions in our teens with very little explanation. Cardiac failure is on the rise in teens and there has not been enough attention paid to these various stimulants. These medicines are only meant for those for whom they are specifically prescribed. The risk is too high, and there is no guarantee that a student will maintain a deeper level of focus or endurance on the test or on the field with any type of drug unless the MD is involved. Thumbs down!

Colleen -- you are so right -- and I've seen kids have bad reactions to drinking several cans of those perfectly legal energy drinks! Does anyone else have more input on the negative effects of stimulants of all kinds on teens?

The problem is children are being prescribed adderall like candy because they claim to "have problems studying" for hours and hours. In addition, many teachers, especially among younger students are pushing kids onto these substances. Scientific journals are pointing that even "proper usage" long term can result in depression and sleep problems. Other studies claim it has become a widespread recreational drug and it's ubiquitousness makes it easily accessible to teens. Adderall is after all brand name amphetamine, which is a highly dangerous drug.

Although I've been on adderol for a few years now, and wish like heck I was on it a 100 yrs ago when I was in school. But, I still feel Dr's are far to trigger happy with prescribing medications to children these days. I also think many do it because parents today want quick "fixes" for their kids. Mainly because nobody has the extra time to try and work through a lot of problems kids may have these days.

I do view it as "cheating," as well as dangerous risk-taking as Colleen mentioned. I also believe that colleges placing so much emphasis on three-hour timed standardized tests for college admission creates a context that would encourage that kind of unscrupulous behavior. As a college consultant, I work with many students who feel so frustrated by timed standardized testing that underestimates their achievement potential. As long as evaluation of a student's college potential is based on an artificial, timed "race", there will be students who are willing to use drugs to enhance their performance, just like in competitive sports.

Adderall is a controlled substance and can be dangerous when not used properly. Both of my sons have ADHD and have taken Adderall to help them focus in school and when driving. The school does push medication as a solution for ADHD, but that is only part of the solution. ADHD can range from mild to severe, and many students with ADHD need support in school to help with deficits in executive skills and other difficulties. It bothers me when this drug is misused because it adds more skepticism to a disorder that is very real and challenging for those who truly have it. Adderall should not be taken before heavy physical exertion. Although my son knew this, he mistakenly took his adderall before a swim test and had difficulty breathing shortly after starting. This was another reminder to me that the medication needs to be closely monitored.