As every student on campus has been told a thousand times, UD is known for its outstanding environment, community atmosphere and friendliness. Also known by most is the Ghetto's reputation for large open parties. The abuse of alcohol may be the largest substance abuse issue on campus, but an under-publicized issue is on the rise.

Misuse of the prescription drug Adderall by students has been spreading in recent years. The drug, designed to help those with attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder focus has been used by many without ADD to enhance their focus tenfold and keep them awake so that assignments can be completed in time for a deadline.

Although many using the drugs when they are not medically necessary would claim that using cannot be bad because of its control of a person's focus, side-effects and harm do come from the drugs. Adderall is addicting if used regularly and over long periods of time. Many unfavorable side effects are also common with Adderall use, such as depression, fever, mental disturbances, vomiting, weakened heart, tics (similar to Tourettes syndrome), nervousness, and the list goes on. The greatest danger to a person without a prescription is posed with an issue of dosage: an improper and irregular amount of consumption of Adderall, as is probably associated with many unauthorized users, can lead to death.

All of these risks that users face should dissuade them from their habit, but the problem is a recurring issue, even for students at UD. A lack of factual information on the side-effects may allow illegal users to rest easily at night, or it may be disregard for the seriousness of the risks'after all, a paper due tomorrow needs to get completed somehow.

The latter excuse is intolerable. Students without true medical need for drugs should realize that the excuses for taking these medicines can be easily avoided in healthy manners. For example, studying for a test or writing a paper should not be put off to the point that illegal use of medication is needed to ensure moderate success; students need to learn successful time-management skills and to sacrifice some pleasures for success'like spending a few Friday nights in the library which, despite what some may think, will not kill a UD student. What about during finals week when tests and papers are due everyday for a week and a half? There are safer ways to focus: leave the iPod and cell phone in the room, ban yourself from Facebook.com and instant messaging, and get a study room, maybe even one with nothing but four walls and a desk.

If focusing is a daily problem, a trip to the family doctor may be necessary. If he or she does prescribe Adderall, it will be in a safe and optimally effective dosage.

Even though students can find ways of effective, non-chemically-induced studying, it is a simple fact that some may still take the risk posed by prescription drugs the night before a test or paper. But keep in mind that at college it's necessary to keep a good head on your shoulders and to encourage your friends to do the same. This head is safe and, preferably, not illegally chemically altered.