THE use of prescription medication or "smart drugs", like Ritalin and Concerta, have come under the spotlight at university campuses as students struggle to cope with the pressures of tertiary education.
Concern over these smart drugs, used to enhance concentration during exams, has been raised as the nation marks Drug Awareness Week.
Pierre Viviers, of the Stellenbosch University Campus Health Service, said there is an increase in demand during and around tests and exams, with students sometimes requesting the medication due to the perception that it enhances their academic performance.
“It is a real problem that we are confronted with and therefore a strong focus is placed on the educational process aimed at students,” he said.
“The university’s Campus Health Service receives, from time to time, requests from students for a prescription for Ritalin and Concerta, and also treats students for the side effects associated with the possible misuse of these drugs.’’
Viviers said doctors involved in the Campus Health Service will not prescribe Ritalin until after a complete process of confirmation such as diagnosis through an appropriate/qualified health-care provider.
Dr Mari Retief, of Tygerberg Hospital, said stimulant medications like Ritalin are usually prescribed for conditions like ADHD, narcolepsy and some cases of depression.
But high doses of these medications can possibly lead to emotional liability and sometimes psychosis and seizures.
In research done at a university she would not disclose, she said 252 students were surveyed and 17 percent of these students reported using stimulant medication without a script or not as prescribed.
The majority of the students used the stimulant medication to improve their concentration levels.
“There was evidence from our study that students are diverting their stimulant medication – in other words friends, classmates and family members with a script is giving or selling some of their medication to other students,” Retief said.
UCT spokesperson Azwi Mufamadi said patients who visit their student health service for any prescription medication are clinically assessed for appropriate medication and managed accordingly.
He could not give an indication of the size of the problem across the university community.
John Schooling, director of student accommodation group STAG African, said there are numerous pressures placed on students, which intensifies the drive to turn to prescription drugs in order to cope with the workload.
Due to the on-campus housing shortage, many students do not have access to university-based studying resources, such as the internet or textbooks.
Students often end up pulling all-nighters in the library, due to long distances and unreliable transport, which makes getting home at night difficult and at times dangerous, adding to the pressures they face, he said.