Adderall - slow to respond

As an undergraduate at Ohio State University, JD Bickel listened to his classmates talk about using Adderall. He watched them trade it for money, dinner, and favors. He cringed when he saw them take it to help them stay up all night to study for a test. But he didn't realize how serious Adderall abuse was on campus until he got involved in the school's campaign to end prescription drug abuse.

Now a student in OSU's Pharmacy College, Bickel has helped expand the conversation about Adderall on campus by reaching out to fraternities and sororities and groups involved in Student Government, Residence Life, and Student Health.

Bickel found that students were ready and willing to talk about Adderall, a psychostimulant designed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder that has become popular among high-achieving college students. The groups he approached willingly agreed to incorporate an anti-prescription drug abuse message into their programs.

"I saw that students generally knew that this misuse and abuse was an issue, but may not have ever had their questions about it answered- they didn't have a complete picture," Bickel said. "However, they were willing to discuss it with us. When we gave them the information, it was clear that many of them would at least reconsider their perceptions, and even actions, regarding these practices."

Researchers estimate 30 percent of college students have used Adderall at least once. While students aren't hesitant to talk about the "study drug" that has become an almost routine part of test prep or exam week, school administrators are more reticent. And on the few campuses where administrators have taken aggressive steps to stamp out Adderall abuse, students are behind most of the efforts. ... COMPLETE STORY >>

Read Rachel Duane's complete report at WORLD on Campus.

This story is part of a WORLD on Campus series on Adderall abuse.