Cognitive Supplements for College Students

In a recent study at the University of Kentucky, 30% of students - including 80% of all upperclassmen in fraternities and sororities - admitted to using ADHD drugs illegally to improve their cognitive abilities of focus, concentration and memory power, in an effort to achieve better grades. These students are buying "study drugs" without a prescription, paying as much as $5 per pill for what they're told is Adderall® or Ritalin®. Many students say it's easier to buy ADHD drugs around campus than marijuana.

While ADHD drugs are beneficial to those who receive proper prescriptions, they can easily be abused by students who equate these "study drugs" to drinking a caffeinated energy drink. However, ADHD drugs contain amphetamine and can be habit forming; the federal government lists them as Schedule II drugs that have "the highest abuse potential and dependence profile of all drugs that have medical utility." Abuse of ADHD drugs can cause long-term psychological and anxiety problems, disrupt sleep patterns, and can even cause psychosis and depression. Illegally possessing ADHD drugs can result in arrest, prosecution, jail time, or even court-ordered rehabilitation.

However, there are nutrition and vitamin companies that now provide cognitive health supplements that will help students increase their focus and concentration, improve their memory and boost their energy, without any of the harmful side effects or abuse potential. While some students may question the strength of these supplements, these cognitive supplements are created by scientists at major private-label vitamin manufacturers, and are formulated specifically to replace amphetamine-based "smart drugs" with natural supplements that achieve the same results without the negative side effects. They help individuals to focus on tasks at hand, concentrate on their studying or work, improve their memory capacity and recall, and boost energy, all without using amphetamine, caffeine, or ephedrine. What results are natural health supplements that can help individuals retain more information, achieve better grades, improve their work productivity, or have focused concentration while playing competitive sports or working out at the gym. The best cognitive supplements promote brain function in the prefrontal cortex of the brain and improve brain circulation, so the effects are powerful but without causing jitters or the dreaded caffeine crash.

While ADHD drugs can be effective, most students and student-athletes will experience the most success with natural cognitive supplements. They have all the benefits of ADHD drugs, in that they help to maximize focus and concentration, explode energy levels, improve memory and recall and enhance mental performance, without any of the negative health (and potential legal) ramifications. Plus, they're often less expensive than buying ADHD drugs, making them perfect for students on a tight budget.