I was recently told a story about an employer who participated in a hiring day at a local university. The recruiter represented a federal law enforcement agency. Surprisingly, some students seeking information on federal jobs approached the recruiter’s booth reeking of marijuana. College students looked dumbfounded when the recruiter reported that applicants for this particular agency must be drug free for five years before being eligible for employment, or longer if other drugs are used. As young people pursue higher education and college experiences, it is always recommended to keep an eye on the future. Experimental drug use can disqualify a 4.0 GPA college graduate from incredible employment opportunities after graduation and put them years back in the careers of their drug-free counterparts.

When a person thinks of the drugs young adults are exposed to in college, one of the first drugs that comes to mind is often marijuana. However, it has been established that drug use has also expanded into the area of ​​prescription drugs. One particular prescription drug that is widely abused on college campuses is Adderall, a central nervous system stimulant used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Most of the Adderall abused on campus is obtained from students who may legitimately have ADHD. These students have legitimate prescriptions for Adderall, but have decided to illegally divert the medication to other students. Students often take Adderall to stay awake in preparation for classes and tests or to attend an all-night party. Although it may be perceived as a harmless act at the time, students who obtain drugs illegally during college may be disqualified from gainful employment for years after graduation, or barred from some opportunities altogether.

College graduates can develop drug addictions and continue to abuse prescription drugs or other illegal drugs after graduation. For these young adults, employment will become increasingly difficult to find because most employers request drug tests and randomly conduct drug tests during employment. More than 80% of Fortune 500 companies test their employees for drugs and alcohol. (1) Our country’s largest employer, the US government, generally requires abstinence from the use of illegal drugs for several years before considering an applicant eligible for employment. Depending on the drug used and the duration of the abuse, a potential candidate for federal employment may never be deemed eligible. When applying for a federal job, applicants must complete a drug use questionnaire. This is usually followed by a polygraph exam to detect deception. Additionally, it is critical that applicants are honest in their responses when applying for any job because if they are found to be misrepresenting the facts, they can be immediately disqualified or fired and may even face criminal charges.

The temptation to use prescription stimulants in college is strong for many students because drugs provide increased alertness and energy. Stimulants can apparently help busy students by providing more time to tackle school work and eliminating feelings of tiredness and the need for sleep. However, studies have found that stimulants do not improve learning or thinking ability when taken by people who do not actually have ADHD. Additionally, research has shown that students who abuse prescription stimulants like Adderall and are not diagnosed with an attention deficit actually have a lower GPA in college than those who do not. (two)

There are other considerations against the abuse of stimulants like Adderall in addition to possible career derailment. Taking Adderall without being prescribed and medically supervised by a doctor can also be physically harmful and can lead to long-term addiction. Stimulants like Adderall can increase blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature, as well as decrease sleep and appetite. Lack of sleep and malnutrition not only affect judgment and cognitive abilities, but can have long-term negative effects on the body, especially if there are pre-existing medical conditions. Repeated stimulant abuse can lead to feelings of hostility and paranoia and, in high doses, can lead to serious cardiovascular complications, including stroke. (3)

Adderall is a particularly dangerous drug for college students due to its highly addictive qualities. As a result, Adderall has been placed in the highest possible program for approved prescriptions under the federal list of controlled substances (Program II), similar to Hydrocodone and Oxycontin. Like the dangers of other Schedule II narcotics, mixing Adderall with alcohol is very dangerous because it increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. This is because the alertness that Adderall produces can mask the effects of severe alcohol poisoning. Someone taking Adderall may not realize how intoxicated they are, as it can prevent them from getting tired, falling asleep, and ultimately ending their party for the night. As a result, they don’t stop drinking and eventually end up with alcohol poisoning. (4)

College students are advised to refrain from the temptations of illegal drug use and recreational use of prescription drugs to secure their future. While it may seem harmless or even necessary at the time, taking marijuana, Adderall, and other drugs can have a devastating result. In addition, people who share or sell legitimate prescription drugs, including Adderall, are committing a serious crime and could be prosecuted for drug trafficking and other federal crimes. Most importantly, students must maintain a healthy, drug-free lifestyle throughout college in order to function fully during classes, as well as be prepared and eligible to enter the job market after graduation. Otherwise, instead of pursuing desired career aspirations, young people may be seeking addiction interventions.