From Study Aids to Substance Abuse

New research from Binghamton University highlights the dangers of illicitly using “study drugs” like Adderall, commonly taken by college students seeking academic advantage without an ADHD diagnosis. Led by Associate Professor Lina Begdache, the study surveyed 702 undergraduate students from across U.S., examining their usage of substances including ADHD medications, cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, MDMA, and ecstasy, alongside their academic performance and mental health.

The researchers found that using one substance was associated with generally poorer mental health and lower resilience to stress.