How desperate are office workers these days to spend long hours and continue to remain alert? They can go as far as taking Adderall.
In a very disturbing article recently published by the New York Times and Forbes, there is a growing trend among employees. Many of them are actually medications that are intended for people who have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These include Concerta, Vyvanse, and Adderall.
These drugs have been helpful in keeping themselves awake for many hours, allowing them to sustain their work way beyond their regular office periods. Most of all, users are able to cope with the brimming energy of their colleagues, who consider these drugs as their "secret weapon."
Although it is unclear how many of these workers are taking the drugs, the doctors feared there are plenty of them. According to them, taking these types of drugs can lead to misuse, which may then cause a higher increase of depression and anxiety cases.
Nevertheless, it seems like these employees are doing everything they can to get hold of the drugs, including buying them in the black market or feigning an ADHD diagnosis.
As to why this has been the trend, the doctors believe that this is generational, which means those who are taking the medications have most probably done it while they were still in school. Some studies have already pointed out on the rise of stimulant use among college students.
Aside from these medications, there are also others who are getting their hands on legal stimulants, or those that have been approved by the Federal Drugs Administration. Usually, these are those that contain herbal extracts and vitamins. To keep the users alert, however, these stimulants also have a high level of caffeine. One of the most popular brands is Nootropics.