To the Editor:
I was very disturbed by Melody Joy Kramer's column ("Steroid Scandal Strikes Ivy League," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 3/16/05). In her column, Kramer uses fictitious names like "Juana Speed" and "Al Nighta" to describe how Penn students, who choose not to illegally use drugs like Adderall and Ritalin, are "notably at a distinct disadvantage."
As one of the co-chairs for the University Honor Council, I am regularly asked about my views on the recreational use of Adderall. Many of my peers believe that it is a harmless drug that will improve their focusing ability and that has no serious side effects. While the medical community maintains that Adderall, or amphetamine-dextroamphetamine, is safe for individuals with ADD and ADHD, many of the drug's long-term effects are still unknown. The Web site adderall.drugs.com lists the side effects of the drug, including nervousness, tremors, anxiety, high blood pressure, impotence and other changes in one's sex drive. In addition, the site states that Adderall is habit forming, and that "physical and psychological dependence may occur with the use of this medication, and withdrawal effects may occur if you stop taking it suddenly after several weeks of continuous use." The psychological dependence on Adderall may lead students to believe that they need to take the drug in order to succeed in a school or work environment. For this reason, the use of Adderall as a study aid in college may develop into a lifelong habit for many.
While I believe that the health concerns are the most important reasons to refrain from non-prescribed Adderall use, I think that integrity also plays a role in the decision. Penn's Code of Academic Integrity mandates that students not attempt to gain an unfair, unauthorized advantage over other students. While the Code does not specifically forbid the use of Adderall, it states that members of the Penn community are "responsible for adhering to the principles and spirit" of the Code of Academic Integrity. Using Adderall without a prescription provides the individual with an illegal, unfair advantage, and therefore constitutes a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity.
Illegal Adderall use is not a joke; it is a serious problem. Students who use Adderall without a prescription risk their health and their integrity. Refusing to use Adderall illegally may mean that you need to work harder to stay focused, or that you have to tell your friends that it's not your thing, but you will always be proud that you earned your Penn degree.
Leslie Schwab
The author is co-chairwoman of the University Honor Council
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