The stress of college and the heavy workload that comes with it push students to find new ways to focus and learn. A pressing problem found on American college campuses is the misuse of non-medical ADHD stimulant medications. College students are exposed to much misinformation about the use of non-medical prescriptions for ADHD due to popular myths that stimulants are “smart doping” and are therefore helpful for students struggling with academic pressures. This is an urgent issue that should not be taken lightly, but it seems to carry very little weight on college campuses and in the media. Ask any college student who abuses these types of drugs and they will swear their success to the stimulants that helped them stay up until 3 in the morning preparing for an exam. This is very problematic. Poor awareness and misinformation of popular myths are fueling the already burning fire of non-medical stimulant drug abuse on American college campuses. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The non-medical use of prescription ADHD medications is becoming a growing problem on college campuses. This is very problematic because students are not aware of the effects and illegality of taking non-prescription stimulants. These drugs work by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with attention, movement and motivation, which helps reduce hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. These drugs don't give you knowledge, they simply give you the boost you need, which is why so many college students are looking for stimulant drugs. Most students purchase these drugs under the counter without ever reading about the side effects that could potentially harm them, some of these side effects include; insomnia, decreased appetite and increased heart rate. In a report written by Brown University on the number of emergency room visits, "The report found that the number of emergency room visits for non-medical use of ADHD medications among adults aged 18 and older is tripled from 5,215 in 2005 to 15,585 in 2010" (Price 2). This dramatic growth demonstrates that the abuse of these drugs is threatening the health of students and needs immediate attention. A study of the word Adderall trending on Twitter around college exam time concluded that “the most common side effects were sleep deprivation (5.0%) and loss of appetite (2.6%)” (Hanson 1 ). Students who are not prescribed these medications experience these symptoms which can not only harm their health but also harm their mindset. Popular myths have led to misinformed college users. These common myths relate to the non-medical use of stimulants as academic performance enhancers or “smart drugs.” They are also sometimes referred to as an academic boost, for a student who has academic difficulties. Not only the media promotes such behavior, but also some practicing doctors. Dr Brian Doyle, a well-known doctor, said: “It doesn't seem to cause too many problems as most students use the drugs not to get high but to function better. Once the tests are finished they return to normal and stop abusing the drugs." (Arria & Dupont 417). Such assumptions are not only based on no evidence, but also encourage students to abuse drugs.