"A Pill for Studying" Being Traded on Campus - The Growing Gray Market of Prescription Drugs Among Young People

"Focus Pills" Becoming the Unofficial Currency on Campus

Before exams, before assignment deadlines, during weekends of all-nighters. There are moments in the lives of university and CEGEP students when they think, "If only I could focus a bit more," or "If only my brain could work for a few more hours." And then someone jokingly suggests,

"Got any Vyvanse?"
"Can you sell me just one Adderall?"
"Do you have any extra Concerta?"

This is exactly the atmosphere reported by a student newspaper in Montreal, Canada. Psychostimulants prescribed for ADHD treatment are circulating among young people, moving away from "medical" use to being tools for studying, work, play, and even dieting. Moreover, according to those involved, it doesn't necessarily feel like an underground crime. It's more about borrowing and lending among friends, exchanging at parties, and selling to acquaintances. The core of the problem is that these drugs are treated not as "dangerous substances" but as "convenient pills."

A student featured in the original article mentions taking a friend's medication before exams, despite not having a prescription. Another student admits to giving their ADHD medication to friends and sometimes selling it for about 20 Canadian dollars per pill. From their perspective, this doesn't make them a "drug dealer." They're simply sharing legally obtained medication from the pharmacy. It feels more like "helping out" among friends than illegal drug dealing.

However, this casualness is precisely what's dangerous.

For those with ADHD, psychostimulants can be a crucial treatment for managing daily life. These medications support concentration, impulse control, daily rhythms, and adaptation to academic and work environments, and should be used under proper diagnosis and prescription. On the other hand, if someone without a prescription takes them on their own judgment, they may experience side effects such as sleep disorders, appetite loss, palpitations, anxiety, and increased blood pressure. The risks can vary significantly depending on the individual's constitution, medical history, mental state, and interactions with other medications or alcohol.

The feeling that "it's safe because it came from a pharmacy" is only half correct. Indeed, compared to unknown illegal drugs, prescription medications are controlled products with clear ingredients and dosages. However, this "safety" is only valid when combined with a doctor's diagnosis, dosage adjustments, medication management, and follow-up. If someone other than the prescribed individual uses it for a different purpose, in a different amount, or at a different time, it ceases to be medical.

The Reality of High Prescription Rates in Quebec

The background to why this issue is particularly noted in Quebec is the high prescription rate of ADHD medications. The original article points out that Quebec is one of the regions in Canada with high usage of psychostimulants. Other studies and public documents have also long debated the high rates of ADHD diagnosis and medication prescriptions among young people.

The more prescriptions there are, the more opportunities there are for these medications to be present in homes, dorms, bags, and lockers. Even if the medication is correctly prescribed within the healthcare system, within schools and friendships, it may be seen as a "potentially surplus resource." On social media, there are numerous accounts of people being asked to "share a little" as soon as it's known they are taking ADHD medication.

There are two issues here.

One is the danger of repurposing prescription drugs. The other is the perception of those with ADHD. For those who need the medication, psychostimulants are not tools for "cheating." They are support to stand on the same starting line as others in daily life. However, when those around them view it as a "study booster" or "exam advantage," the difficulties faced by those with ADHD become less visible.

In ADHD communities on social media, there is repeated expression of anger and fatigue towards this perception. A user who just entered university posted about being shocked when a friend asked for leftover medication right after discussing it. Another post expressed frustration that friends were using the same medication for study purposes. In the comments, reactions included, "I refuse because I don't want to be involved in prescription drug abuse," and "Being asked for medication itself feels like my struggles with ADHD are being trivialized."

Additionally, a recent post mentioned a user who had been asked for their medication hundreds of times. While this should be read as an individual's experience with some exaggeration, at least on social media, there is a shared discomfort among those with ADHD medication being seen as a "source" by those around them.

Why Do Young People Turn to Prescription Drugs?

The reason young people turn to psychostimulants is not just simple curiosity. Rather, in many cases, it starts from a place of "struggle."

They can't concentrate. They can't finish assignments. They know what they should do, but their body won't move. They can't keep up with classes. They can't meet deadlines. They don't know if they're lazy or if there's something wrong.

One student in the original article felt they had symptoms similar to ADHD but avoided going to a medical institution. Another student, after considering they might have ADHD, obtained medication from an acquaintance and, feeling its effects, moved towards a formal diagnosis. In other words, illegal acquisition can sometimes function as a "confirmation of self-diagnosis" for the individual.

This is dangerous and also a matter of medical access. On social media, there are voices mentioning the high cost of ADHD testing for adults around Montreal, long waiting lists, and not knowing where to consult. If the path to diagnosis is long and both financially and psychologically challenging, young people may want to rely on those around them who already have the medication.

In this sense, the resale or transfer of prescription drugs cannot be dismissed as merely an issue of individual morality. The background includes a competitive environment that pressures students, a lack of mental health support, disparities in access to diagnosis, and the societal pressure of "it's your own fault if you can't achieve results."

The "Performance Society" Drives the Demand for Drugs

The repurposing of psychostimulants is not only a problem with the drugs themselves but also a mirror reflecting the society we live in.

Students are expected to achieve good grades. Scholarships, further education, employment, internships, certifications, language skills, part-time jobs. Young people's time is fragmented, constantly pressured to prove something. Resting appears as falling behind, and the inability to concentrate appears as a defect. In such an environment, a "pill that might help you focus" can seem less like a temptation and more like a lifeline.

However, even if a drug temporarily boosts concentration, it doesn't eliminate the underlying fatigue, lack of sleep, anxiety, isolation, academic burden, or financial stress. In fact, pushing oneself with medication may lead to missing the opportunity to recognize one's limits.

As experts in the original article point out, the spread of psychostimulants is compounded by the perception of "looking safe" and the societal pressure of "having to achieve results." The danger is not just the drugs themselves. The danger is the environment that makes one feel they can't compete normally without taking medication.

Both Sellers and Buyers Take It Lightly

In the unofficial distribution of prescription drugs, there is a "lightness" on both the selling and buying sides.

Sellers think, "It's my medication, so a little is fine," "My friend is in trouble," or "I'm just giving away leftovers." Buyers think, "It's medication from a hospital," "My friends are taking it," or "It's just once." Neither side feels like they're involved in a serious risk.

However, prescription stimulants are controlled substances in Canada, and their use is premised on being for the treatment of the person prescribed. Transfer or sale may not just be a school rule violation or a breach of manners. Furthermore, if the recipient experiences health issues, the giver could bear significant moral and legal responsibility.

In social media comments, there are realistic warnings such as "You should report it to the police if your medication is stolen," "Early re-prescription becomes difficult," and "Giving it to others makes it harder for you to receive your own medication." In other words, the repurposing of prescription drugs threatens not only the buyers but also the lives of those who genuinely need treatment.

To Prevent Isolating Those Who Truly Need It

When discussing this issue, there is something important to keep in mind: while criticizing the misuse of psychostimulants, we must not demonize ADHD treatment itself.

For those with ADHD, medication therapy can significantly improve their quality of life. Medication taken with proper diagnosis and in consultation with a doctor is a crucial option that supports academics, work, relationships, and self-esteem. The problem is not the existence of the medication but that it flows outside the bounds of diagnosis and management and is handled based on friendships and social media perceptions.

What is needed is not fear-mongering awareness campaigns. It's ensuring that when students feel "unable to concentrate" or "maybe I have ADHD," there are accessible places to consult. It's having a clear path to diagnosis and support. It's creating an atmosphere where students prescribed medication can easily refuse when asked by others. And it's understanding that possessing prescription drugs is based on medical necessity, not a "privilege" or "backdoor route."

Educational institutions also have a role to play. Simply holding one-off lectures on drug abuse prevention is insufficient. It's necessary to combine mental health support during exam periods, learning consultations, support for students with disabilities, connections to medical institutions, information on medication storage, and education to reduce prejudice against ADHD.

The "Fatigue of Those Involved" Shown in Social Media Reactions

Direct social media reactions to this particular article are still limited, as far as can be confirmed. However, discussions on the same theme have already accumulated on social media. Especially in ADHD-related communities on Reddit, experiences of those with prescription drugs being asked for them by friends or classmates are repeatedly shared.

The reactions can be broadly divided into three categories.

First, the emotional reaction of "It's rude" or "It hurts." For those with ADHD, the medication is for organizing their lives. When others seek it as a "study booster," it seems like a disregard for their difficulties.

Second, the realistic reaction of "You should never give it away." Legal issues, the risk of health damage, the impact on one's own prescription continuation, and the danger of theft are pointed out.

Third, the complex view that "Among those asking for medication, there might be undiagnosed ADHD." The background to why people who can't concentrate reach for medication may hide undiagnosed developmental traits or mental health issues. In such cases, what is truly needed is not a friend's medication but a path to diagnosis and support.

These three reactions, while seemingly contradictory, actually indicate the same thing: the repurposing of prescription drugs crudely handles the struggles of both those with the drugs and those seeking them.

The Question Isn't Just "Why Sell?"

When faced with the phenomenon of young people buying and selling psychostimulants, we tend to ask, "Why do something so dangerous?" Of course, that question is necessary. But it's not enough.

Why do students crave concentration so much?
Why do they turn to a friend's medication before getting diagnosed?
Why are students with prescription drugs seen as "people who will share"?
Why does taking a pill to get through seem more realistic than resting or asking for help?

The resale of psychostimulants occurs at the intersection of educational environments, medical systems, and youth culture. To stop the distribution of drugs, it's necessary not only to convey the illegality and dangers but also to change the situations that make young people feel they have to rely on drugs.

Behind the feeling of "just one pill" might be the voice saying, "I can't do it alone anymore." That's why what's needed is not to blame the drugs or the young people. It's to continue delivering prescription drugs to those who truly need them while creating social support that prevents those who don't need them from turning to them.

What circulates on campus is not just pills. It's the anxiety over grades, the distance to diagnosis, prejudice against those involved, and the pressure of "having to be a better version of oneself."

Source URL

Montréal Campus "La revente de psychostimulants banalisée chez les jeunes?". Source of student testimonies and expert comments on the transfer and resale of psychostimulants among young people.
https://montrealcampus.ca/2026/04/28/la-revente-de-psychostimulants-banalisee-chez-les-jeunes/

Health Canada "Prescription stimulants". Public information on the misuse of prescription stimulants, short-term and long-term side effects, and abuse risks among high school and university students.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/prescription-stimulants.html

INSPQ "Surveillance du trouble du déficit de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité au Québec en contexte de pandémie de la COVID-19". Reference material on ADHD diagnosis and prescription trends in Quebec.
https://www.inspq.qc.ca/sites/default/files/publications/3690-surveillance-trouble-deficit-attention-context-COVID-19.pdf

IQVIA "Medication Treatments for Mental Health Disorders in Canada". Information on the increase in prescriptions for psychostimulants in Canada, with growth in prescription numbers from 2020 to 2024.
https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/canada/publications/iqvia_2025-mental-health-report_en.pdf

CIRANO "Surdiagnostic du TDAH au Québec". Research report on the high rates of ADHD diagnosis and prescriptions in Quebec compared to other regions in Canada.
https://cirano.qc.ca/files/publications/2023RP-08.pdf

CCSA "Prescription Stimulants Canadian Drug Summary". Confirmation material on the legal status of prescription stimulants in Canada, emphasizing that their use is intended for the person prescribed.
https://www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2019-07/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Prescription%20Stimulants-2019-en.pdf

Reddit r/ADHD "Just got asked for my meds for the first time". Reference for the reactions of those asked for ADHD medication by friends, as shared on social media.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/qf9yxm/just_got_asked_for_my_meds_for_the_first_time/

Reddit r/ADHD "am I wrong for being pissed off that my school friends are using the same pills as me to study?". Source of the discomfort felt by those whose friends use ADHD medication for study purposes, and the