BEFORE arriving at university, Ritalin had always been clearly-labelled a pharmaceutical drug. Something which needed to be prescribed. Suddenly, it was being mentioned as casual and easy to take, an ‘upper’ when you need a push to get the last of your work done. This reality was shocking to me when I first encountered it. One of my friends spoke to me about the dangers of substance abuse at universities especially during exam time and I realised what a problem it really was. It had never occurred to me that people were going beyond the ‘gateway drug’ of energy drinks and abusing stimulants like Ritalin. Then I heard people talking about taking ‘rit’ and I felt well out of my depth.
It appears, too, that it is dangerously easy to access. With many individuals going to their local doctor and quickly receiving Ritalin at the mention of their difficulty to concentrate. In many of these situations, no further questions were asked. It seemed ludicrous to me that something which has the potential to affect people’s lives so greatly could be circulated with such nonchalance. Immediately, I was seeing it everywhere. When a large essay approached, people were taking Ritalin. When they had a very important practical that morning, people popped the appropriate pill. In 10 milligram amounts, this drug was abounding and, taken with a Monster, it ‘worked’ even better.
Meanwhile at my residence we had an information evening where individuals shared their stories of stimulant abuse, while others shared their struggles with the effects of Ritalin and how much it pained them to see it used in such a way. However, the abuse of stimulants doesn’t end at the pursuit of academic improvement, it also finds its place in getting high at clubs. The commonality of “sniffing rit” is mingled with talk of harder drugs. In this scenario, it is a common misconception that such stimulants are safer than ‘street drugs’ when they are actually classified in the same category as highly addictive drugs such as cocaine.
The ease at which one is able to access and use such stimulants is worrying and affects school-goers as well. Many parents are unaware of the potentially dangerous substances their children are abusing as a result of rising academic pressure. As a result, young people may be gaining the taste for addictive substances without realising it. In my own experience at high school, the police were brought in at various times concerning drugs. However, the question which should be asked is whether the equally dangerous issue of stimulant abuse needs to be given a deeper look. Although there are differing experiences and opinions of Ritalin and stimulants like it, the inappropriate or unmonitored use of it remains problematic. As a result, a drug with the potential to assist general concentration and quality of life may be giving rise to a dangerous and addictive reliance.
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