The Blue Banners View
Society has no right to biame students for Adderaii abuse
As UNC Asheville speeds
through the semester, with almost
a month of classes completed,
midterms loom ever closer.
And though most students will
study and do well on their own,
some will use a little crutch.
In a recent survey, the National
Institute of Health found that Ad
deraii is one of the most common
prescription drugs high school
and college students abuse.
And while that in itself isn’t
new or even mildly surprising, the
NIH reported another finding that
requires discussion.
The survey found one of the
top reasons students take Adder-
all is to gain an advantage in the
ultra-competitive environment of
the academic world.
Reasons students cited for tak
ing Adderaii include help with
concentration, help with studying
and increased alertness.
It would be redundant and
pointless to argue against pre
scription drug abuse.
Every action has a cause, and
Students think if they aren’t making a 4.0 GPA
their entire future is in jeopardy.
a society that puts such extreme
demands on its students to suc
ceed academically does not have
the right to hypocritically criti
cize them for developing a coping
mechanism.
Granted, abusing Adderaii and
other prescription drugs should
not be condoned. And society
can’t be blamed for attempting to
weed out weak students.
Competition, to some degree,
is necessary.
But when a society fosters such
intense competition for fewer
and fewer spots in universities
and companies after graduation,
we’re talking about dog-eat-dog,
anything goes competition.
Parents and educators of vari
ous levels try to focus on getting
students into classes that will put
them ahead of the game. And
don’t forget about those clubs and
activities which will look good on
an application.
And the job fairs. And the in
ternships. And the part-time Job.
And community service.
All of this culminates into a
kind of frenzy where students
think if they aren’t making a 4.0
GPA or making the right contacts,
their futures are in jeopardy.
And their fears are validated
as they watch their overachieving
peers make it into Ivy League uni
versities where a diploma is more
important than an education.
What society fails to fully re-
w^d are students who do well
within their own means and lim
its.
It’s why geniuses struggle
through school, while mediocre
students who can drug themselves
to success manage to claw their
way to a diploma.
Unfortunately, there’s no way
admissions counselors can differ
entiate between the two. What are
they supposed to do, administrate
drug tests before students take the
SATs?
Yet, it is inexcusable to contin
ue to completely fault students for
abusing Adderaii.
If policymakers are truly con
cerned, they should change the
college admissions process so it
more accurately judges individual
merits which are hard to quantify
on paper, like the possession of
“people skills.”
And students should realize
that success based on drug abuse
is illegitimate. Abusing Adderaii
is an easy way out for weak and
lazy students.
Look for Assistant News Editor
David Milton’s article on student
Adderaii abuse on Sept. 23.
The ULiUJi -DANNER Editorial Board
Kcwpen fictll 019 (828) 251~6586 www,th£blueba,ntwT.n6t
Jonathan Walczak, Editor-in-Chief
Lorin Mallorie, Managing Editor
Cassady Sharp, News Editor
Sam Hunt, Arts & Features Editor
GregMicks, Sports Editor
Susaa lsrael, Photography Editor
Tom McLean, Co-Campus Voice Editor
Patrick Zarcone, Co-CampUS Voice Editor
Matt Starkey, Web Editor
Jesse Michel , Design Editor
J^ayidMilton, Assistant News Editor
EHn McWhorter, Assistant Arts & Features Editor
ien Shannon, Assistant Photography Editor
Anna Kiser, Business Manager
Patricia Furnish, Copy Desk Chief
JasonHoweh, Promotions Director
Myssa Spencer, Distribution Director
Michael Gouge, Facuity Adviser
Have a tip?
Jonathan Walczak
Editor-in-Chief
jmwalcza@unca.edu
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