College and university students seeking a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the medication necessary to treat it have faced numerous obstacles at their campus health centers. The New York Times reports that dozens of institutions, such as North Carolina State and Georgia Tech, are facing overwhelming volumes of these requests that they can no longer handle. Therefore, many institutions have instituted stricter rules for obtaining amphetamine-based prescription medications that are used to treat ADHD.
Several colleges and universities fear that many students requesting these stimulant prescriptions may be looking for a “study edge” and do not truly exhibit ADHD symptoms. Studies have estimated that as many as 35% of college students take these stimulants to increase their focus during high-stakes testing periods such as final examinations. It is against federal law to possess these pills without a prescription. Their abuse has many harmful effects, including anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
As a result, many student health centers have developed very rigorous policies that make it more difficult for students to get diagnosed or prescribed stimulants. Some institutions are forbidding their clinicians from making ADHD diagnoses (George Mason and the University of Vermont) or to prescribe stimulants (William & Mary). Instead, they are sending students to off-campus medical providers. Others are requiring students to sign pledges or releases. For example, many require students to sign contracts promising not to misuse pills or share them with classmates (University of Alabama, Marist College, and Fresno State) or to sign releases allowing clinicians to call parents to confirm the student’s full medical history (Marquette University).
Students find these policies both frustrating and discriminatory, claiming that they deter students from seeking the help they need. University officials acknowledge that while these policies have made it more difficult for students to obtain treatment, it’s a necessary step in combating widespread misuse of these prescriptions.
