Thursday, April 23, 2015 • www.usustatesman.com • (435)-797-1742 • Free single copy
Adderall season Students seek ADD medication for the finals week push
4By Jeffrey Dahdah news editor
Editor’s note: Sources Tim and Marshall in this article gave interviews with the condition of anonymity, which is why their last names have not been disclosed. Tim started taking medication for Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, in eighth grade. He went from almost flunking out of school to earning straight A’s almost immediately — but he grew tired of it. When he came to Utah State University, there was high demand for the medication he had become so disinterested in. “Once I went to college, people would hear that I had it through the grapevine or friends, and there were times that I would keep a couple (pills) on me and walk around campus,” said Tim, a junior at USU. Tim could make $100 dollars walking around campus selling each capsule for $10, especially during finals week. “The street price, or the campus price, definitely doubles around finals week,” he said. “Students are seeking after it during finals week even if they aren’t so much during the semester.” Students get ahold of medications like Adderall to ensure productivity on exten-
sive study-binges. Demand peaks at the end of the semester. “I think it helps me focus,” said Marshall, a sophomore at USU. “It makes me alert and aware, and I’m present. A lot of times finals week is stressful. You don’t get a lot of sleep because you are studying and stressed out. On Adderall I still do get stressed, but it’s like a positive stress, I guess, because I feel more productive.” Dr. James Davis, director of the Student Health and Wellness Center, said while students may feel more productive, that is not necessarily the case. “That doesn’t mean that it is going to change their ability to retain information or process information,” he said. “It’s not changing what the student is hoping it will change, and it is adding risk that the doctors are hoping that it doesn’t add.” Medical risks include heightened blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and a higher risk of heart attack. Lack of appetite and sleep are minor concerns, Davis said. The only cases of stroke Davis
has seen in someone under age 30 were connected to the use of ADD medication. Davis said these medical risks are “quite rare,” yet students seeking Adderall or other ADD medication have to weigh their perceived need against potential legal ramifications. Technically, possession of non-perscribed Adderall could result in a felony, as it is a controlled substance. “The real problem is that it is illegal,” he said. “It is not
something that you can talk your way out of if you were apprehended for doing it, but it’s not something that we turn people in for. My interest is for people to stay in school and stay healthy.” A person can get a prescription for Adderall or other ADD medication at USU by getting an evaluation from a licensed psychologist, who can then give a recommendation to a doctor after an extensive evaluation process to prescribe the medicine.
Uninformed or uninterested Being informed about world news can be important for students
The Student Health and Wellness Center has written 473 ADD medication prescriptions to different students this school year. Dr. David Bush, a psychologist for Counseling and Psychological Services, said that students come in for attention troubles, ranging from anxiety to lack of interest to actual ADD. Bush said there are potential alternatives to ADD medication: mindful-awareness practices such as breathing
exercises, meditation or yoga. “I wish every student on campus practiced those strategies,” he said. “I think you’d see the academic benefits as well as the social and emotional benefits.” The actual amount of students who use Adderall without a prescription at USU is unknown. Marshall speculated that 20 percent of his friends use Adderall on occasion. Tim thinks that number
jSee ADD, Page 3
What we missed Stories about USU that were not covered by the Statesman throughout the year
4By Mariah Noble tor Scott Wamsley were editor-in-chief
Editor’s note: Though The Utah Statesman has tried to cover the most relevant and newsworthy stories, the following are stories we missed this year in brief: Transportation master plan survey
Kelsie Lott photo
4By Mandy Morgan staff writer
Being informed on world news isn’t a normal part of Chris Crook’s daily life just because of his studies in political science — it is something he believes is important. “I just think it makes sense, especially in a republic like we have where you actually get a chance to vote. It’s important to read up on the issues and know what’s going on so you can make important decisions,” said Crook, a junior majoring in economics and finance at Utah State University. Student life doesn’t make for much free time to read the newspaper or watch the news, but finding a few issues students can daily read up on and be interested in could lead to being better informed, Crook said.
“There’s so much information out there,” he said. “Between all the news apps, it’s a 24-hour news cycle. I like the apps because I always have access to them on my phone, and if I have a free moment, I can check that out.” Crook uses news apps BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters and Associated Press (AP) to stay informed on national and international news. He also streams podcasts while at work and listens to CNN shows during free time on the weekends. Many younger people believe they are left out of the decision-making process when it comes to legislation in the U.S., but the reason behind that is that they are not very involved with voting and reaching out to legislators, Crook said. “The more informed you are, the more likely you are to actually be involved with the political system
and actually show up to vote,” Crook said. “The more informed you are, the more likely you are to try to push for changes — good changes in society and try to make the world better.” Many students believe it takes much more time and involvement to be sufficiently informed than is actually needed, said Damon Cann, an associate professor in the political science department. “The bar is not that high,” Cann said. “It’s important that we’re paying attention so that we can hold our elected officials accountable, but we also need to let our elected officials go out and do their jobs because not every citizen can put in the time and effort to be well informed on everything the federal, state and local governments are doing.”
jSee NEWS, Page 11
A recommended transportation master plan shows the closing of 700 North from Bullen Hall to 900 East in five years and to 800 East in 10 years, pending the addition of a new student center. A survey seeking feedback from students about the plan is available until May 1 at parking.usu. edu. Though the plan suggests the street be closed, it would still be available for pedestrian, bicycle and bus access as well as access to parking areas. The three-tiered phase approach highlights what campus would look like in five, 10 and 25 years. Campus recreation employees fired Former campus recreation director Kevin Kobe and assistant direc-
fired in December after accepting tickets to professional sporting events from potential vendors who were vying to provide sports equipment for Utah State University’s new recreation center. Tim Vitale, executive director of public relations and marketing at USU, said Wednesday the case is still undergoing some levels of review, so releasing records would be inappropriate at this time. Two interim co-directors have replaced them as administrators in the department. Slackline lawsuit Three students, who were previously named in a lawsuit asking for $2 million, were dismissed from the court case in December. Eric Scott Anderson died after an accident involving a slackline on campus the first day of fall semester in 2013. His parents filed a lawsuit, faulting the three students, some administrators and the university. The administrators’ names were dropped from the document earlier in 2014.