Faking ADHD In College Students

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Faking ADHD Are you feeling unfocused in school? That’s how a lot of college students feel or at least say that they feel. Young adults in college have been faking ADHD to obtain the prescribed medicine Adderall. Others who haven’t gone through that process have been simply buying the pills from the people who have obtained it. These students feel they need a mental edge to help them study and take tests and these pills allow for that. The truth is, it is actually easy to fake ADHD which makes many students without the problem, try and get it prescribed from their doctor. This is a problem that needs to be stopped. ADHD is a chronic condition that includes difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. People with…show more content…
David Berry at the University of Kentucky. His group of fakers was reviewed on the ADHD Rating Scale which was developed by Barkley and Murphy and on the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale. The people giving the test could not distinguish between the fakers, who had spent five minutes on google learning what signs to display in order to trick assessors, and the real ADHD group. (University tests) This generation of computer literate youth needs to only google the symptoms of ADHD to be able to fool many doctors? That’s a little scary. Mental health is not an exact science and the criteria for many mental health diagnoses are somewhat subjective. Students have caught onto the fact that more time on tests gives them an advantage and that taking ADHD meds can increase focus and alertness even in someone without the illness. In this increasingly competitive environment, students are resorting to unfortunate measures to get ahead of the…show more content…
Some side effects include, lack of appetite, headache, inability to fall asleep and stay asleep, dry mouth, abdominal pain/discomfort, weight loss, and restlessness. Those are the least dangerous side effects but some of the hazardous side effects include increased blood pressure, high pulse rate, irregular heart rate, difficulty breathing, chest pain, allergic reaction like swelling to eyes or throat, migraine, fainting, severe aggression, and depression. High doses of Adderall can specifically target the heart and respiratory system, causing temporary or long-term damage. In some cases, Adderall can cause sudden death or stroke in patients, mostly those who have a heart defect or heart problem. It may also interfere with other medication for an illness or medical condition. If it is taken for long periods of time throughout childhood and adolescence it could possibly stunt growth or weight gain and lead to long term complications related to development. One should talk to their doctor about these potential side effects so they can realize and know the risks they may be

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