Topical Essay Psychostimulant drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin are being used at an increasing rate among high school and college students. Since this drug has been in circulation, the number of children prescribed it has increased dramatically. This drug was originally created to help children with ADHD, but now kids who aren't even prescribed these drugs take them to improve their academic performance (Loe 2008). Is the increased use of this drug becoming a problem, or is there a larger problem at hand where students feel they must take it to be and maintain success. Students are taking Adderall and Ritalin at an increasing rate. Even students who are not even prescribed these drugs obtain them through the “grey market” to help them academically. A study conducted at the University of Michigan found that 1 in 4 students have taken these types of drugs. Their study also showed that universities in the northeastern United States with higher admissions standards had a higher percentage of students taking Adderall or Ritalin (Loe 2008). One problem faced by sociologists is the medicalization of this problem. Medicalization is the idea that a problem was once considered a personal behavioral problem, but is now defined as a medical problem that can be treated with some type of prescription (Loe 2008). “According to Loe (2008) this is what is done with ADHD and drugs like Adderall. While it is true that these drugs help students perform better academically, it is creating the idea that any problem that arises can be solved simply with a pill. This places the blame on the student as an individual rather than the student body at large.” I… halfway through the test… so based on that I worked really hard to do well and get good grades. Now that there is such a high demand for students to do well, it is forcing them to rely on medications and Ritalin to meet these demands. Due to increased pressure being placed on students to do well in school, drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin are being used at an increasing rate. The high demand for student success has created the need for these psychostimulant drugs in order to keep up with the high demands. Works Cited Loe, M., & Cuttino, L. (2008). Grappling with the medicated self: The case of college students with ADHD. Symbolic Interaction, 31(3), 303-323. Retrieved from ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection.Loe, M. (2008). The prescription of a new generation. Contexts, 7(2), 46-49. Retrieved March 20, 2014, from the American Sociological Association.