Graphic by Dalton Runberg / The Collegian

A growing number of college students have abused prescription medications such as Ritalin or Adderall. These substances are used to treat attention deficit disorder(ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Up to 20 percent of students on college campuses have used either Ritalin or Adderall to gain a competitive edge on their coursework, according to Andrew Jacobs of the New York Times.

Full-time college students between the ages of 18 to 22 were twice as likely to have used Adderall than those who were not students, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

SAMSHA classifies Adderall as having the highest potential for dependence or abuse.­ Other substance abuse issues also coincide with Adderall use. Nearly 90 percent of college students who used Adderall reported binge drinking within the last month, according to SAMSHA.

The California Health Collaborative is making an effort to combat drug use with the Lock It Up Project.­ The project is a community-based substance abuse prevention program designed to increase awareness about illicit use of prescription drugs in the young adult population of Fresno County.

The Lock It Up Project offers informational and educational presentations, community-based outreach services and in-service training for schools and professional personnel.

“The objective of the Lock It Up Project is to reduce illicit use of prescription drugs among 12 to 20-year-old youth in Fresno County,” Fresno State student and youth services specialist Michelle Alcantara said.­ “These drugs are a growing problem in college. Twenty-four percent of college students use prescription drugs illegally.”

“We are finding that a lot of people actually are abusing prescription drugs through surveys and evaluations,” program manager of the Lock It Up Project Rolando Valero said.­ “I encourage people to find out the risks and consequences of these drugs before trying them.

“Many individuals who use these drugs are mixing them with alcohol, which can lead to respiratory failure and can eventually cause death,” Valero added.

The project includes drop zones for unused prescription medications and illegal drugs. Two of the drop zones are located in the University Police Department office and the Fresno Sheriff’s department.

The Fresno Sheriff’s Department drop-off center last month collected between 60 and 80 pounds of unwanted drugs, including prescription and illegal drugs.

“The top six drugs that are popular right now are Oxycontin, Vicodin, Valium, Xanax, Ritalin and Adderall,” said JD Garza of the Lock It Up Project.

Garza added that about 2,500 of teenagers between the ages of 12 to 17-yearolds per day are experimenting with an opiate for the very first time.

Students struggling with prescription drug addiction may contact JD Garza at (559) 244-3618 for additional resources on study aids and opiate addiction.