Studying Steroid

As Asher and I were brainstorming plots for our drama, I recalled some information I discovered earlier in the year. Not even realizing it would be a great idea, I just casually mentioned it to Asher, and immediately he fell in love with the idea- the idea based on Adderall. 

"Adderall contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control." 

In other words, Adderall is a prescribed drug that is used to improve focus, attentiveness, and organization. That is why it is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and certain cases of narcolepsy. However, just as any other medicine, it can be abused and can become addicting. The side effects of this drug, especially long term, are terrifying and irreversible. While Adderall has some positive effects on people who need it and who are prescribed it, it has many powerful negative effects that can change a person forever.  

Adderall is used to increase certain hormones in the human brain to secrete to the rest of the body. These hormones, and neurotransmitters, include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine (also referred to as noradrenaline). They all work to ultimately create positive emotions, drive, and motivation. They are responsible for creating and regulating feelings of pleasure and emotion. 

Neurotransmitters Adderall Affects

Adderall works to influence one's brain into thinking that it is receiving these neurotransmitters at a normal quantity, but it is actually receiving them in much larger doses than the body is use to. So over long periods of time of taking this drug, and taking it when one is not supposed to, it alters these brain chemicals and changes them forever, and here's why:

The brain is tricked into thinking that the body has received enough of these neurotransmitters and that they are present for the brain to use. However, since Adderall has affected the rate of which these hormones are secreted, the brain stops producing them altogether. This drug stripped these neurotransmitters, and the natural production of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine is no longer made. 

This side effect is just one of many that Adderall produces. The long term effects are much more dangerous than the short term effects, even though those are incredibly harmful physically and psychologically too. 

The problem with Adderall is that no, more than ever, it is being used recreationally and is being retrieved illegally. It is becoming an extremely prominent drug among generation Z and millennials (coincidentally our target audience), specifically high school students and college students. They use this drug to enhance their focus for studying, concentrating on tests, and staying awake for all-nighters. 

"Adderall is abused as a 'smart drug' across college campuses."

Adderall, as I like to call, is a studying steroid. I tend to view this drug as a method of cheating because it alters one's brain to have a higher performance than it normally does, giving others an upper hand than the students who actually study and try their hardest. 

Asher and I have never taken Adderall, however, we both have more friends than we'd like that take it, and not because they are prescribed it. It is becoming a problem in my school because students are getting a hold of it more frequently and it is traveling throughout our campus by word of mouth. Even though we have done our fair share of research on Adderall, we thought it would be best to have testimonials on both people who are honestly prescribed it and on people who take it recreationally. We feel that these interviews are crucial to the development to our film and to adapting the personality of Nora, our main character. 

Our plot will revolve around the idea that Nora is one of those people who take it recreationally and to increase her success in school. However, she neglects to understand the effects this causes and it takes a severe toll on her life, turning it completely upside down. 

Asher and I had a meeting to check up on the planning process of our project with our AICE Media Studies teacher, Mrs. Stoklosa, and she is very fond of our idea. She, too, agrees that Adderall has become a large problem in our school. We also had a group meeting with our peers in our class to discuss the development of each one of our projects and they loved the plot. They all said that is was a smart choice to focus on this drug because they all either have friends who take it or have heard stories about people who have. They understand how important this topic is becoming, and they all thought it was refreshing. Asher and I were very happy to hear that others loved our idea as much as we do, and that just gave us even more motivation to produce a complete and utter realistic representation of the effects Adderall has on our generation. 

Check back for more updates on our research on Adderall and Nora's experiences. 


Talk soon!