We should treat the un-prescribed use of ‘study drugs’ (Presсrіption stimulants used to treat ADD and ADHD include Ritalin®, Adderall®, Concerta®, and Focalin®) as academic dishonesty at Western.” Yes or no?

1. Running Head: UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 1
Use of ‘Study Drugs as Academic Dishonesty
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2. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 2
Use of ‘Study Drugs as Academic Dishonesty
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to a health condition affecting both
adult and children and is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inability to pay
attention (Poison control). According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse,
the condition is also characterized by the inability to manage frustration, stay organized, or focus
on tasks. Most of the victims of this health condition tend to have a disruptive behavior, which
makes them not to concentrate on whatever they are doing whether at home, school or any
setting. The use of prescription stimulant medication is commonly used to treat attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some of the examples of prescribed stimulant used to treat ADD
and ADHD include; Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and Focalin (National Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse, 2012). Although the use of this stimulant is recommended for treating certain
health condition under doctors instructions, the use of the stimulants among the unprescribed
people has been on the high increase (Chudowsky, 2011).
According to Giordano et al. (2015), the misuse of prescribed drugs is on the high rise
among the youth. For instance, most students use drugs like Ritalin, Focalin which are not
prescribed to them with the intention of promoting their academic performance. According to
Judson and Langdon, (2009), about 34 percent of students have been reported with misuses of
ADHD stimulant. The law regarding the use drugs clearly indicates that either using or buying
these drugs with no prescription from the doctor is illegal. This is because they are controlled
substances by the food and drug administration ministry. Just like other drug substances such as
opium and cocaine, the abuse of these drugs causes both physiological and psychological
dependence (Chudowsky, 2011). This paper is argumentative, and it support the assertion that we
should treat the un-prescribed use of ‘study drugs as academic dishonesty

3. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 3
Academic misconception
We should treat the un-prescribed use of ‘study drugs as academic dishonesty because of
the following reasons. The first one is about academic misconception (Lakhan and Kirchgessner,
2012). The idea of using stimulant drugs among the student for academic purposes is a pure lie,
and it should be abandoned. It supports the misuse of stimulant which is rampant among the
youth especially the college student (Garnier-Dykstra, Caldeira, Vincent, O’Grady and Arria,
2012). According to Judson and Langdon (2009), the students believe that if they use this
stimulant, they will be able to concentrate on their studies as well as it will enhance their studies
thus promoting their academic excellence. Furthermore, it is noted that many students who
engage in using these prescribed drugs without the advice of doctors tend to copy from their
friends with the hope that it will bring positive results in their studies (Ford, 2008).
However, the use of this stimulant causes an adverse effect on the academic performance of
the user (Giordano et al. 2015). There is no way a stimulant can boost the level of academic
concentration in a normal individual. The use of prescription stimulant medication is used to
treat an individual with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and this happens only following
the doctor’s prescription. According to the research done at the National Center on Addiction
and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (2012), 65% of students surveyed for having used
“study drugs” in high school indicated that they continue using those drugs in colleges believing
that it will boost their concentration and focus thus translating to better academic performance.
Lakhan and Kirchgessner (2012) acknowledged the fact that, there is no research supporting an
assertion that the use of prescribed drugs promotes academic performance among student. In
their argument, they indicated that the increasing rate of misuse of the stimulant by unaffected
students is because of two issues. First reason is that of lack of sufficient information about the

4. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 4
dangers associated with the use of the drugs. It is noted that ignorance among students about
risks involved in the use of the drugs is one of the main contributors towards indulgence of
students in this vise. Second reason is as result of misconception as well as from peer influence.
In fact, the increasing use of the drug increases the victim addiction to the stimulant (Judson and
Langdon, 2009). Therefore it means that an individual cannot concentrate without using the
stimulant and this will lower the academic performance of an individual because an individual
will not concentrate, in case he or she is not under the influence of such stimulant (National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 2012). All these arguments indicated that the use of
un-prescribed study drugs should be avoided because they will not yield any positive results in
academic performance of an individual. The use of such stimulants should only be used under
doctor’s prescription but not misused as the case is in among many individuals (Kolar, 2015).
Academic integrity
The second point, why we should treat the un-prescribed use of ‘study drugs as academic
dishonesty is because of academic integrity. Allowing students to use unprescribed drugs in
colleges and universities will compromise academic integrity (Connolly, Keller, Leeve, and Cox-
White, 2008). Therefore, this should not be allowed because the society value people to have as
per the set principles of integrity. Honesty being an essential virtue in one’s life, it needs to be
instilled in a young generation because they are the future leaders. All learning institutions like
colleges and universities are essential places where good morals are instilled in young people.
Integrity being among essential values, need to be considered by all learning institutions
(Bleeker, 2007). Hence these institutions should not be considered as a nursery bed for
propagating vices like advocation for using a stimulant. It is necessary for students to observe
academic integrity principles so that they can be assessed fairly (Connolly et al. 2008).

5. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 5
Furthermore, students who used their knowledge honestly in colleges, they tend to perform well
in their workplace. This is because they never relied on any influence for their excellence in the
course work. According to Garnier-Dykstra (2012), students who rely on their knowledge tend to
have confidence in course work than those who use the stimulants. Therefore, this argument
indicates that the use of prescribed stimulant for academic performance compromises the
academic integrity. According to (Bleeker, (2007), having a country where student’s integrity
was compromised means the country future is ruined. All students at colleges are valued as fixed
assets for the next generation of the country. That is the reason why many nations economic and
development value is invested in the youth. However, this can only be realized if academic
integrity is observed (Bleeker, 2007). For instance, the society depends on professions for certain
services. Doctors and teachers offer essential services to the society. Supposing the students who
are training as doctors and teachers use the stimulant in their training, means that the society will
not have professional doctors and teachers. This will affect the entire nation regarding services
delivery. This is because they never used their reasoning to excel in the academic.
Unfair advantage
It is noted that the use of non-prescribed stimulants among the students gives students an
unfair advantage. The use of Adderall for non-medical reasons among students increases their
concentration ability which is not intrinsic (Judson and Langdon, 2009). According to the
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (2012), students who use stimulant believe
that their level of concentration as well as their focuses will improve. Therefore by having such
conviction makes them spend more time in studying with the hope that their academic
performance will improve. In comparison between the students where one student uses the
stimulant while the other is not using, it is evident that the one who studies under the influence of

6. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 6
the stimulant will remain alert, and conscious for an extended period than the one who does not
rely on such stimulant. This means that these two students will vary in relation to time used in
studies and this will create a state of unfair competition between the two students. This is
because the one using the stimulant is studying for a longer period than the other one. Therefore
anything that gives some students advantage over others should be regarded as academic
dishonesty. Although academic competition is crucial as far as the academic journey is
concerned, and it should be done on fair grounds. Fairness in academics is not only defined by
equal access to academic resources, but it is also reflected concerning equality in accessing
studying time. By avoiding incidences of some students having a time advantage over others, it
creates a fair competitive ground where all students compete favorably, and this increases the
credibility of the academic results. Therefore, for lecturers to measure the academic performance
of their student, it is important that all students should be tested fairly. However, fairness can
only be realized when all students are subjected to equality regarding accessing to all academic
resources, studying time being one of them.
Breach of student’s ethics code of conduct
The increasing use of un-prescribed ‘study drugs” should also be considered as academic
dishonesty because it breaches the student's code of conduct. It is noted that student is supposed
to conduct well while in learning institutions like high schools, colleges and even in universities.
Acquisition of new behavior or relation of student needs to be a positive one that would seek to
promote positive relationship in the institution. Therefore, the element of good conduct among
students covers many aspects which by adherence create a conducive environment for learning
(Braxton and Bray, 2012). This means that all drugs need to be used by the students only under
the prescription of the doctor (Benson, Flory, Humphreys and Lee, 2015). Participation of

7. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 7
student by using stimulant without prescription of a doctor is a violation of the code of ethics,
and it is regarded as an academic dishonesty (Money, 2008). Good values need to be cultivated
in students starting in the learning institution. This is because such institutions are places where
students spent much of their time learning many things that are bound to affect their future life in
one way or another. Basing on ethics code of conduct, it is noted that the use of un-prescribed
drugs by the student is regarded as drug abuse (The National Center on Addiction and Substance
Abuse, 2012).And this is a vice that needs to be discouraged at all cost. This is because the use of
such stimulant causes detrimental health effects on the user. According to Ward (2015),
Prescription stimulant is only allowed to be used by those who have been recommended by the
doctors. When they are used correctly as prescribed, they bring a positive effect to the health of
the user (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 2012). This means they can restore
the health of the user by promoting. However, according to Poison Control (2017), the use of
such stimulant to unprescribed user cause some health effects like high body temperature, stroke,
heart attack and in some cases leads to death. In addition , Garnier-Dykstra, et al, (2012) in their
research about the use of prescribed drugs among college students acknowledged the fact the
indeed the use of this stimulant by un-prescribed individual pose health concern This clearly
indicated that the use of this stimulant has negative effect on the user and anything that causing
such scenario breaches ethics code of conduct.
Conclusion
In summary, the use of un-prescribed ‘study drugs” should be treated as academic
dishonesty. This because the use of such stimulant causes many negative effects as follows. The
first one is an academic misconception. The student believes that if they use the stimulant, they
will be able to concentrate on their studies as well as it will enhance their studies thus promoting

8. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 8
their academic excellence. Also, many student students who engage in using these prescribed
drugs without the advice of doctors tend to copy from their friends with the hope that it will
bring positive results in their studies. This makes the student believe in practices that will not
have positive results in their academics. Secondly, it compromises academic integrity. Allowing
students to use un- prescribed drugs in colleges and universities will compromise academic
integrity. It is necessary for students to observe academic integrity principles so that they can be
assessed fairly. The point is about unfair advantage. It is noted that the use of non-prescribed
stimulants among the students gives students an unfair advantage. In comparison between the
student where one student uses the stimulant while the other is not using, it is evident that the
one who studies under the influence of the stimulant will remain alerted for a long period than
the other one who does not rely on such stimulant. Finally, is about ethics code of conduct. The
increasing use of un-prescribed ‘study drugs” should also be considered as academic dishonesty
because it breaches the student's code of conduct. It is noted that student is supposed to conduct
well while in learning in institutions like high schools, colleges and even in universities.
Participation of student by using stimulant without prescription of a doctor is a violation of
code of ethics, and it is regarded as academic dishonesty.

9. UN-PRESCRIBED USE OF ‘STUDY DRUGS 9
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