I was recently told a story about an employer
participating in a recruiting day at a local university. The recruiter was
representing a Federal law enforcement agency. Amazingly, some students seeking
information about Federal employment approached the recruiter's booth reeking
of marijuana. The college students appeared dumbfounded when the recruiter
advised that applicants for this particular agency must be drug-free for five
years prior to being eligible for employment, or longer if other drugs are used.
As young people pursue higher education and the experiences college offers,
keeping an eye on the future is always advised.
Experimental drug use can disqualify a 4.0 GPA college graduate from incredible employment opportunities after graduation and put them years behind the careers of their drug-free counterparts.
Experimental drug use can disqualify a 4.0 GPA college graduate from incredible employment opportunities after graduation and put them years behind the careers of their drug-free counterparts.
When a person thinks about the drugs young
adults are exposed to in college, one of the first to come to mind is usually
marijuana. However, it has been established that drug use has expanded into the
area of prescription drugs as well. One prescription drug in particular that is
highly abused on college campuses is Adderall, a central nervous system
stimulant used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Most of the Adderall abused on campus is obtained from students who may legitimately have ADHD. These students have legitimate prescriptions for Adderall, but have decided to illegally divert the medication to other students. Students typically take Adderall to stay awake preparing for classes and exams or to attend an all-night party. Although it may be perceived as a harmless act at the time, students who obtain drugs illegally during college may be disqualified from obtaining lucrative employment for years after graduation, or banned completely from some opportunities entirely.
Most of the Adderall abused on campus is obtained from students who may legitimately have ADHD. These students have legitimate prescriptions for Adderall, but have decided to illegally divert the medication to other students. Students typically take Adderall to stay awake preparing for classes and exams or to attend an all-night party. Although it may be perceived as a harmless act at the time, students who obtain drugs illegally during college may be disqualified from obtaining lucrative employment for years after graduation, or banned completely from some opportunities entirely.
College graduates can develop drug addictions
and continue to misuse prescription or other illegal drugs after graduation.
For these young adults, employment will be increasing difficult to attain because
most employers drug test applicants as well as conduct random drug testing
during employment. Over 80% of Fortune 500 companies perform drug and alcohol
testing of their employees. (1) The largest employer in our country, the U.S.
Government, typically requires abstinence from illegal drug use for several
years before they will consider an applicant eligible for employment.
Depending on the drug abused and length of the abuse, a potential candidate for Federal employment may never be considered eligible. When applying to a Federal job, applicants are required to complete a drug-use questionnaire. This is typically followed by a polygraph examination to detect deception. Additionally, it is critical for applicants to be honest in their responses when applying for any job because if it is discovered they are misrepresenting the facts, they may be immediately disqualified or terminated and may even face criminal charges.
Depending on the drug abused and length of the abuse, a potential candidate for Federal employment may never be considered eligible. When applying to a Federal job, applicants are required to complete a drug-use questionnaire. This is typically followed by a polygraph examination to detect deception. Additionally, it is critical for applicants to be honest in their responses when applying for any job because if it is discovered they are misrepresenting the facts, they may be immediately disqualified or terminated and may even face criminal charges.
The
temptation to use prescription stimulants in college is strong for many students
because the drugs provide increased wakefulness and energy. The stimulants can
seemingly assist busy students by providing more time to address school work
and removing the feeling of tiredness and need to sleep. However, studies have
found that the stimulants do not enhance learning or thinking ability when
taken by people who do not actually have ADHD. Additionally, research has shown
that students who abuse prescription stimulants like Adderall who are not
diagnosed with an attention deficit actually have lower GPAs in college than
those who do not. (2)
There are other considerations against
abusing stimulants like Adderall aside from the potential career derailment.
Taking Adderall without being prescribed and medically supervised by a
physician can also be physically harmful and may lead to long-term addiction.
Stimulants like Adderall can increase blood pressure, heart rate, and body
temperature, as well as decrease sleep and appetite. Lack of sleep and
malnutrition not only impair judgment and cognitive abilities, but can have
long-term negative effects on the body, especially if there are any
pre-existing medical conditions. Repeated abuse of stimulants can lead to
feelings of hostility and paranoia and at high doses, they can lead to serious
cardiovascular complications, including stroke. (3)
Adderall is a particularly dangerous drug for
college students to abuse because of its highly addictive qualities. As a
result, Adderall has been placed in the highest possible schedule for approved
prescriptions under the federal list of controlled substances (Schedule II),
similar to Hydrocodone and Oxycontin. Similar to the dangers of other Schedule
II narcotics, mixing Adderall with alcohol is very dangerous because it
increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. This is because the alertness Adderall
produces can mask the effects of severe alcohol intoxication. Someone taking
Adderall might not realize how intoxicated they are, as it may prevent them
from getting tired, falling asleep, and ultimately ending their party for the
evening. As a result, they do not stop drinking and eventually end up with
alcohol poisoning. (4)
College students are advised to abstain from
the temptations of illegal drug use and recreational prescription drug use in
order to secure their future. While it may seem harmless or even necessary at
the time, taking marijuana, Adderall, and other drugs can have a devastating
result. Additionally, individuals who share or sell any legitimate prescription
drugs, including Adderall, are committing a felony and could be prosecuted for
drug trafficking and other federal offenses. Most importantly, students should
maintain a healthy drug free lifestyle throughout college in order to be fully
functioning during classes as well as prepared and eligible to enter the job
market after graduation. Otherwise, instead of pursuing desired career
aspirations, young people may be pursuing addiction intervention.
References:
1.
drugtestingnetwork.com/employer-testing
2.
dugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/stimulant-adhd-medications-methylphenidate-amphetamines
3. dugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/stimulant-adhd-medications-methylphenidate-amphetamines
4. addictioncenter.com/stimulants/adderall/
