<p>Just noticed this 3-part series from Loomis Chaffee's student newspaper, the LOG. I'm well aware that such abuse occurs at the collegiate level, and not surprised to find out it exists in the BS world, either, but can't hurt to post the link here so parents can consider taking an active role in talking to your kids about stress management.</p>
<p>I find that an odd conclusion that someone who needs Adderall legally is not a good fit for college. If anything, for the right person, the drug makes it easier for them to focus. </p>
<p>Although there are other substitutes that have no street value because they don’t produce the requisite “buzz” non patients are looking for.high and might be a good choice for college students.</p>
<p>As the parent of a child with diagnosed ADHD, I’m beyond offended by the Harvard article. What a ridiculous and narrow-minded position. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I’m impressed that Loomis Chaffee is dealing with this openly but surprised that there is this illegal market. My understanding (from several other schools) was that kids taking stimulants need to have them directly dispensed from the health center. If I were a parent at LC, this is something that would give me pause. As a parent of kid who needs her medication I’d want to make sure she’s taking it and if I were a parent of a kid who didn’t need it I’d want to know that basic measures were being taken to make it that much more difficult to obtain.</p>
<p>At some schools, once a student establishes a pattern of coming in regularly for medication, s/he may be allowed to get a week’s supply at a time. That’s a further matter for parents to investigate: sometimes even when the meds start at the health center, they may not always have to stay there.</p>
<p>10 years ago I taught at an all-boys school with a thriving, open, illegal trade in Adderall. That was before schools started keeping medications in the hands of the school nurses and doctors. I told a lot of stunned boys that perscription drugs are still drugs; they aren’t 100% safe to take for everyone at any time in any amount. I was not the only teacher actively involved in intervening and educating, either.</p>
<p>Glad to see that Loomis is being honest and talking about the issue.</p>
<p>^^My thoughts exactly. I understand why Momof7thgrader states this expose might give her pause, but I’m not one to shoot the messenger. If this is happening at Loomis, you can pretty easily extrapolate that it is going on elsewhere. Same is true for “Perfectly Prep”; some people saw it as an excuse to scapegoat Pomfret, when in reality what the author described are themes that are endemic in the prep school world. I say kudos to former Head Brad Hastings for having the strength to support such self-evaluation, and the school is probably better for all the discussion that was generated.</p>
<p>Fun search engine game! Search for “_______ Adderall.” Fill in the blank with any prestigious college. Every college I tried in 5 minutes had an article about students using non-prescribed Adderall to study. The students interviewed usually blame the college’s workload.</p>
<p>Extra Credit! Search for “adderall ■■■”</p>
<p>Some of the links include (anonymous) students admitting to using siblings’ or girlfriends’ prescriptions. No school makes student submit to a search for Adderall.</p>
<p>Well, if one thing comes out of this, it is something I will be clarifying with the schools we revisit. Allowing ADHD kids to have a week’s supply and self-medicate is irresponsible. The FDA doesn’t even trust us parents with more than a 1 month supply. </p>
<p>I’m well aware of the illegal use in college, and to some degree in HS, but I consider BS a more controlled atmosphere. I understand kids will always find drugs I don’t support making it easy.</p>
<p>Which is why one of my husband’s colleagues is suggesting to patients (especially their parents) to switch to an alternative (Vyvannse, etc) if tolerated because it has no street value. She’s had patients whose rooms were tossed (robbed) by classmates looking for Adderall, etc. </p>
<p>But the problem isn’t limited to private schools. My other daughter’s local “elite” private school had a thriving underground for stimulants - especially before midterms and finals. Most of it coming from their own prescriptions or their parent’s medicine cabinets. :(</p>
<p>If a child is able to function as a boarding student, he should be able to keep track of his medications responsibly. If a student must make the trek to Health Services every morning, that will label him a student on medication. If he needs the medication to study, he’s harming himself by not taking it.</p>
<p>Dealing is an expellable offense. There’s another thread on these boards about “helicopter parenting” by schools.</p>
<p>It’s also not necessarily the ADHD students who are dealing. A day student, or a student returning from vacation, could carry a sibling’s “extra” medication to campus. I should add that I don’t know of any such thing. It’s just that students do need to be responsible and independent to thrive away from home.</p>
<p>Periwinkle - I’m not worried about my kid being labeled as a “student on medication”. I wouldn’t even consider a school where that is seen as a negative. My child is quite comfortable with herself, understands her condition, will openly tell people about it and is not ashamed of it. I’m not at all worried about her being able to function as a boarding student.</p>
<p>It’s good to ask about each school’s prescription medication policies. Many schools’ handbooks are on their websites. The nurses’ office, or health services, often have a separate page on the website. It’s worth your while to look at the forms each school demands for medication. </p>
<p>On a day-to-day basis, requiring all students who require regular prescribed medication to stop by the nurses every day could become bothersome. </p>
<p>Depending on the school, over-the-counter medication may also be restricted. Tylenol, Advil, allergy medication, etc.</p>
<p>@momofa7thgrader - it’s usually not the patient that is dealing (or using) but students who might find ways to access the meds. Make sure, if your child, is going to be administering her own medication, she have a lock box with a strong lock so she and only she has access to them.</p>
<p>My son says that there are “a million” kids at Berkshire who take daily meds for ADHD or other reasons. While of course this is a gross exaggeration, clearly there is no shame in taking needed medicine. And kids there have to take their pills in front of the nurse. I believe that at most BS there are lots of kids who take meds, and if it isn’t supervised, then look elsewhere.</p>
<p>Two students were expelled from my ds’s prep school this year for one sharing her ADHD meds with her roommate. Don’t play around with this stuff- one offense may get you thrown out of school.</p>