By Kate Snow, Deirdre Cohen, Sarah Koch, Nina Tyler
Rock Center
For Stephan Perez, attending the prestigious Columbia University was more than just a dream; it was a goal he set his sights on when he was only 13 years old and a goal he willed himself to achieve.
“I enrolled into all A.P. and honors classes. And that was my vision. I had only one goal. I woke up in the morning, it was Columbia. I went to sleep at night and it was Columbia,” said Perez in an interview set to air Thursday at 10pm/9c on NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams.
The Georgia-bred teenager worked tirelessly over the next few years and even stopped playing sports in order to focus all of his attention on his academics. His hard work finally paid off when he learned not only had he been accepted to his dream school, he received a Gates Millennium Scholarship that would pay for his tuition expenses.
But his inspirational rise to the top would end in a disastrous fall. It’s a cautionary tale for driven students and their parents.
Perez entered Columbia and before long began to feel overwhelmed by the pace and workload. But just as he started to adjust, Perez suffered a big emotional blow. His grandmother died. One night after his grandmother’s funeral he was in the library with a friend, studying for midterms and struggling to concentrate.
“I tell him, you know, ‘I can't concentrate. Like, I just can't do it.’ He said, ‘This is what you need’ and pulls out this pill,” Perez said.
It was an Adderall pill. Adderall is the prescription medication commonly prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but the stimulant has become increasingly popular among ambitious high school and college students looking to focus for extended periods of time and perform better academically. ADHD drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin boost levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, chemicals associated with attention and behavior, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For someone with ADHD, characterized by impulse control difficulties and inattention, the medications are calming. For people without the disorder, the drugs can be dangerous, especially if not monitored by a doctor.
WATCH ROCK CENTER VIDEO: Student says Adderall like an 'academic steroid'
His decision to take Adderall ended up changing his life. That night Perez says he powered through his work and was capable of reading for eight hours nonstop—absorbing all of the information. Before long, he said he asked his friend how he could get his own Adderall prescription.
“He said, "Go to Health Services. Tell them that you're having trouble studying, focusing. You're going to meet with a psychologist. They'll ask you a couple questions. And you'll get a prescription like that. They give it out like it's candy."
Perez says he met with a psychologist on campus and filled out a short questionnaire with questions like ‘were you fidgety as a child?’ Then, he met with a psychiatrist for what he said was no more than 10 minutes. He walked out with a prescription.
In a statement to NBC News, Columbia University said that its student health service uses “…a detailed clinical protocol for evaluation of ADHD and related conditions…” and takes a “…holistic approach toward treatment for ADHD, including short-term counseling…”
But Perez soon experienced negative side-effects from taking Adderall. The drug caused him to have bad mood swings, so when he didn’t need to study he didn’t always take the pills, leaving him with extra pills that he would give away. After a while, Perez began selling his extra pills to students on campus for anywhere from $10 to $30 per pill.
Perez had no idea at the time that some of those sales had been to an undercover police officer, nor did he know that his life would completely unravel; using Adderall as a study drug would destroy his Ivy League career.
In 2010, Perez, along with four other students, were arrested in a drug bust on Columbia's campus dubbed Operation Ivy League. Perez pleaded guilty to selling Adderall and did 300 hours of community service. He was permitted to take his final exams to complete the first semester of his junior year.
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These people think they are so smart when they take Adderall.... All I think is thanks selfish stupid jerks for making it harder for me (someone who really needs it to function in the world normally) to gain access. The government makes more regulations on it because of your incompetence. Do you ever think of how this would effect others? Obviously not. I now have to see a doctor every single time I need a refill AAAAND insurance does not cover anything to do with it. People have asked for my meds before and I say HELLLL NO! NO one touches my meds. I need it to function with the basics of life... you are lucky you do not. Count your blessings.
Doctors of Psychiatry need to be considered a HUGE part of this problem. I can tell you from personal experience from our son who knew he could go to any one of them, and there were many, and tell them what he knew they wanted to hear and walk out with a script. When will these "docotors" be held accountable?? There is more to this story than what this show has touched on. They didn't even scratch the surface! Idiots!
WOW, the USA never ceases to amaze me! Every single nation on the PLANET except the USA, has a pharmaceutical category of drugs called "NOOTROPICS", which basically is a category that includes drugs which enhance cognitive function without toxicity. The first compound discovered that began this group of drugs is called NOOTROPIL (PIRACETAM). Piracetam has had over 250 published studies in the past 40 years since its discovery. It is literally as safe as sugar or salt, and completely lacks toxicity. Its been approved in every country EXCEPT THE USA. Why?? Because the FDA stated that they are worried it would be used as a "recreational drug". Well why in the world does every country sell this safe drug over the counter for improving memory, and students happily receive the benefits of it all around the planet, BUT OUR FDA PROHIBITS THIS???!! Its literally on the same level as a dietary supplement. Speaking of which, these kids should try a supplement called NADH (Brand name ENADA). It will have the SAME if not BETTER EFFECT than Adderall, since it helps the body secrete the same type of neurotransmitters, naturally and safely. The point is, why the hell does our country prohibit the the classification, use and benefit of safe substances to improve overall performance whether mental or physical?? They can not group all substances as being "unsafe" when they in fact are all different. Some may be unsafe, but numerous other compounds are perfectly safe. Adderall won't kill anyone if taken as prescribed, its non addictive, yet I don't personally promote it. Its a screwed up culture we have in this country, which no other nation shares thankfully.
Just like poor Lance Armstrong who took simple ergogenic dietary supplements to enhance performance, and has been punished for "Doping"??? So taking vitamins is considered doping??? How in the WORLD is proper nutrition becoming equivalent to doping?? I still want to know why the US Pharmacopeia does not have a Nootropic category with cognitive enhancing drugs. Why can't non addictive, safe and non toxic compounds be taken in the short term to improve academic performance?? There are dietary supplements sold today that can have the same effect and they are not banned or prohibited. Its all BS bureaucracy.
This is a misrepresentation of CU health services. They do not hand out aderall like its candy and their commitment to the health and well-being of their students is not just to their grades. I don't know who this student saw, and I know that it's easy for students to say flippantly I went in and just got a prescription, but there are NO 10 minute appointments at student health services at Columbia. As a matter of fact. They are one hour appointments. You have an initial appointment over the phone with a counselor, a follow up appointment with a psychiatrist, THEN you take the survey, THEN you have a follow up appointment to discuss your options INCLUDING prescriptions... This is standard for a students who has a previous DOCUMENTED diagnoses of ADHD. I understand that CU students are likely not using Aderall in a responsible way, but it is not due to a lack of constant emails and encouragement from the university that there are healthier and better options - I assure you. This school spends an obscene amount of money attempting to give their students the best options possible, and their student mental and physical health programs are incredible. I would suggest that the use of Aderall at Hunter College is likely not that different than it is at Columbia. However, for the matter of this post, I mostly wanted to address what I felt was a flippant and false accusation against WELL KNOWN by students standard practices of CU health services. Keep in mind, among 18 year olds it's much cooler to say, "Yeah - I went in and they just handed me a script." than "I had four appointments and lied, manipulated, and begged." Especially to a reporter on national television.
Sorry this was a re-post of the previous comment
The thing that I just don't understand is how at COLUMBIA, all he said they did for ADD testing was basically a psychological exam, when at my California COMMUNITY COLLEGE I was tested for ADHD with multiple computerized tests (That I had to pay over $50 for mind you), a complete psychological exam and had many doctors appointments. Adderall has helped me so much in reaching my educational goals. Before taking Adderall I was not driven and motivated to study, I didn't understand what my teachers were trying to teach me, my notes were full of doodles and drawings. It has helped me understand the way I learn and go about learning. For people diagnosed with ADHD it is a very helpful medication. But I know without it I can do just as well because now I know that I have this disability to overcome for the rest of my education. What people don't realize about it is that your body needs long periods of breaks from it, and you only need to take it when its necessary.
Let me describe the difference between my daughter on ritalin vs not. Unmedicated, she is a butterfly in a field of flowers, flitting from one to another, never settling down. At dinner, she would take a bite of dinner, then do somersaults, take another bite, and then grab her jump rope for a minute. If the children in school were sitting for story time, my child was bouncing off the walls and could not pay attention at all. Homework was lost, or she forgot to write the assignment down, or she left her book at school.
When she started on Concerta (another amphetamine), she was able to function to the point where she could stay on task and actually manage her schoolwork and sit still for more than moments at a time. She also slept better, as her mind wasn't constantly racing.
As with other drugs, when used correctly, the ADHD medications can give someone their life back. Valium and its relatives treat seizures, relax muscles, and treat anxiety, but need to be used carefully. Opiates have a long history of misuse, but are wonderful for treating pain, diarrhea, and coughing. When misused, any of these are a problem.
I must blame the medical profession; too many doctors are cavalier about prescribing these meds, and don't investigate potential for fraud. My child had extensive neuropsychiatric testing by a specialist before she was diagnosed with ADHD. Given the abuse potential, I think this needs to be required before new diagnoses of ADHD are made.
In my professional experience, psychiatric drug-induced chronic brain impairment is now a much greater threat to society than the emotional problems that the drugs are supposed to treat.
~ Dr. Peter Breggin
Today's Greatest Mental Health Need: Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Programs
by Dr. Peter Breggin
10/18/2012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-peter-breggin/psychiatric-drug-withdrawal_b_1962680.html
There are no proven chemical imbalances or other known brain defects that result in what gets diagnosed as mental illnesses.
Occupy Psychiatry
read and learn about this insidious inquisition called “Mental Health Labeling”
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyPsychiatry?fref=ts
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