*Names followed by an asterisk have been changed for anonymity
*Jane ’25 was studying for an upcoming test in the Staples library when a classmate approached her with a simple “fix” to her stress: Adderall. The student said that if *Jane wanted pills to help her focus, they could easily sell her some of their own prescription. She declined.
“I was really taken aback,” *Jane said. “I didn’t know that there was a culture of that here.”
The use of unprescribed stimulants like Adderall among teens appears to be on the rise. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that up to one in four middle and high school students report misusing prescription stimulants. This is likely linked to an increase in prescriptions: from 2022 to 2024, Adderall (dextroamphetamine) prescribed in Connecticut rose by 11.4%, according to state data.
This practice is present within Staples upperclassmen. Students *Emma ’26, *James ’26 and *Ally ’26 have admitted to being involved in unprescribed Adderall usage.
Stimulant medications are used to control impulse and energy levels by altering the brain’s levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters play major roles in motivation, attention, mood, and the body’s stress response. A person with ADHD has a lower level of stimulation, so medication helps to improve clarity and focus. But when people without a need for stimulation take the medication, it has an adverse effect on the brain. Brains become overstimulated and overactive.
*Emma admitted to occasionally taking unprescribed Adderall, provided by a friend, in order to prioritize schoolwork. She admitted that Adderall helps her focus and complete her work, but ultimately limited her use due to unwanted side effects.
“I felt more focused after taking the Adderall, but since I took it in the afternoon [4 p.m.], I couldn’t fall asleep until almost 4 a.m.,” *Emma said.
However, not everyone who abuses Adderall is able to limit their usage.
*James, who has taken unprescribed Adderall on multiple occasions for schoolwork, described experiencing dependency.
“I only really take it when it’s really needed and even then I’ve been trying to stop,” *James said. “I got kind of reliant last year at one point, to the point where I couldn’t focus without it.”
Adderall is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance with a high potential for continuous abuse if not prescribed. According to Dr. Randi Cohen, a Westport psychiatrist, students who misuse stimulants have a 5% chance of getting addicted.
When someone abusing medication suddenly stops, dopamine levels crash, and the brain struggles to adjust, losing motivation, energy and focus.
Additionally, taking unprescribed Adderall can lead to serious consequences, including life-threatening reactions.
“You might wind up even with a heart attack or a stroke from too many substances,” Cohen said. “I have seen several cases where people develop psychotic disorders from taking too many stimulants…it’s often irreversible.”
She added that different dosages prescribed are dependent on various factors such as age, medical history, the severity of your ADHD symptoms, comorbidities, height and weight. If students take Adderall unprescribed, they risk taking a higher dosage than they can handle.
“There was a point where I took 20mg (which was too much for me) and was sweating a lot and felt like I had a really high heart rate (and really stressed),” *James wrote.
But teens don’t only take unprescribed Adderall for school reasons; they will also take it for social reasons.
“My friends have taken [my prescribed Adderall] before going out,” *Ally said. “If you mix it with alcohol, it will make you feel not as intoxicated. But it’s also bad because you think you’re fine, and then you get really sick.”
Stimulant drugs make it harder for the body to regulate alcohol, which makes it hard to know when you have had too much to drink.
Additionally, mixing alcohol and stimulants increases impulsive behavior, which could lead to reckless decisions.
“Using either [alcohol or stimulants] alone would be likely to cause more impulsivity,” Dr. Cohen said. “And certainly using both together, that effect would only be compounded.”
Students’ use of stimulants is illegal and not tolerated by the school. The Staples Code of Conduct states that use of stimulants can result in a five-day in-school suspension or a 10-day out-of-school suspension. Selling or distributing stimulants can lead to a five-day out-of-school suspension, expulsion or possible police referral.
“I definitely would warn students to be aware of this,” Dr. Cohen said. “And also families to be aware of their stimulants being where kids can get to them or people having their stimulants where their friends might unscrupulously get to them.”
