Study Drugs Information

During busy times like midterms, finals or major projects, some students may feel tempted to misuse prescription stimulants鈥攐ften called 鈥渟tudy drugs鈥濃攊n hopes of boosting focus or productivity. These medications, such as Adderall or Ritalin, are sometimes used without a prescription or not as prescribed.听

While prescription stimulants can be helpful and necessary when prescribed and used as directed, misusing them comes with real health, legal and academic risks. This page shares information to help you make informed choices and explore safer ways to support your academic success.听

About Study Drugs

鈥淪tudy drugs鈥 usually refer to prescription stimulants, including medications commonly prescribed for ADHD. When taken without a prescription, in higher doses or outside medical guidance, these substances can affect your body and brain in unpredictable ways.听

Using prescription stimulants without a prescription, or sharing or selling them, is illegal and a violation of 颁鲍鈥檚 Student Code of Conduct.听

Risks and Side Effects to Know

Some students believe stimulants will improve focus or grades, but research shows they do not reliably improve academic performance when used without a prescription. Instead, misuse can lead to unwanted effects, including:听

  • Increased anxiety or panic听
  • Irritability or mood changes听
  • Trouble sleeping or extreme fatigue听
  • Nausea, stomach pain or digestive issues听
  • Focusing on the wrong tasks (like organizing instead of studying)听
  • Worsening mental health symptoms听
  • Dependence or addiction听
  • Seizures or heart鈥憆elated events, especially without medical supervision听

There is also a serious risk of accidental overdose, especially because counterfeit pills may contain unknown substances.听

If you take prescription stimulants as prescribed and experience side effects, reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance.听

Counterfeit Pills and Hidden Risks

real pill compared to counterfeit pill; they look nearly identical

Any pill not purchased directly from a pharmacy could be counterfeit. Fake pills are often made to look like real prescription medications, including:听

real pill compared to counterfeit pill; they look nearly identical
  • Adderall听
  • Ritalin听
  • Xanax听
  • Percocet or Oxycodone听

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has found that nearly half of counterfeit prescription pills tested contained a potentially lethal amount of fentanyl.听

Getting pills from friends, classmates or dealers is especially risky and can result in serious harm or death.听

It is very hard to tell the difference between real and counterfeit pills.听Get your drugs from a pharmacy.听

Ways to Reduce Risk and Stay Safer

The safest option is to only take medications prescribed to you and exactly as directed. If you choose to use substances, these strategies can help reduce harm.听

Please note: There is no foolproof way to eliminate risk when using substances not as prescribed.听

Avoid mixing substances

Mixing stimulants with other substances鈥攅specially alcohol, Xanax or opioids鈥攇reatly increases the risk of overdose and dangerous side effects.听

Start low and go slow

If you choose to use stimulants without a prescription:听

  • Use smaller amounts听
  • Avoid repeated dosing听

Remember: you can always take more, but you can鈥檛 undo taking too much.

Avoid using alone

If something goes wrong, having someone nearby can save a life. Make sure someone can call for help and administer naloxone if needed.听

Use fentanyl test strips

If you choose to use pills that are not from a pharmacy:听

  • Test all of the drugs that will be consumed with fentanyl test strips before use.
  • Testing can show whether fentanyl is present, but it does not make a drug safe鈥攕timulants themselves can be harmful, and pills may contain other unknown substances.

Free test strips are available from Health Promotion on the third floor of Wardenburg Health Center.

Carry naloxone

Naloxone (Narcan) can temporarily reverse opioid and fentanyl overdoses.听

  • It will not harm someone if opioids aren鈥檛 present.
  • Free naloxone is available at Health Promotion.

Make sure people around you know where it is and how to use it. Naloxone is available for free from Health Promotion on the third floor of Wardenburg Health Center.听

Be Ready for Emergencies

Signs of an overdose:听

  • Irregular heartbeat or chest pain听
  • Confusion听
  • Seizures or convulsions听
  • Hallucinations or delusions听
  • Passed out or unresponsive听
  • Shallow or slowed breathing听
  • Blue or gray lips or fingertips听

What to do:听

  • Call 911 immediately听
  • Administer naloxone, even if you鈥檙e unsure about the person鈥檚 condition听
  • Put the person in the 听
  • Stay with the person until help arrives听

Good news:听

颁鲍鈥檚 Amnesty Policy and Colorado鈥檚 can protect you from disciplinary action or prosecution if you call for help and stay with the person.听

Find Support

Free naloxone and fentanyl test strips: All students can pick up free party smarter supplies, including naloxone, fentanyl test strips and more at the Health Promotion office at Wardenburg (third floor).听听听

Free substance use workshops: Students can reflect on their relationship with alcohol and other substances. Workshops are educational, and not therapy or treatment.听

Collegiate Recovery Community: Weekly support meetings, substance-free activities and connection for students considering, pursuing or in recovery from substances and other unwanted behaviors.听

ADHD information: Review treatment services, information and frequently asked questions from Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS).听

Academic Support Without Study Drugs

There are safer and often more effective ways to improve focus, memory and performance.听

Study strategies to try:听

  • Study when you鈥檙e most alert听
  • Break sessions into shorter, focused blocks听
  • Prioritize exam content and difficult topics听
  • Reduce distractions and reward progress with breaks听
  • Aim for 7鈥9 hours of sleep听
  • Use naps strategically (15鈥20 minutes)听
  • Eat regularly and stay hydrated听
  • Create a consistent, study鈥慺riendly space听

Starting early and pacing yourself usually leads to better outcomes than cramming.听
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There are also free or low鈥慶ost tutoring and learning services available across campus. Check your syllabus or ask your instructor where to start.听