More government. Is there anything it can’t do? Charles Schumer’s plan is not going to solve any problems, it’s just going to turn more college students into criminals.

Blake Baxter of The College Fix reports.

Senator Schumer Takes Aim at Academic Doping

The practice of taking ADHD medicine to enhance cognitive ability or “academic doping,” as some have referred to it, is a phenomenon that has been rapidly spreading across college campuses in recent years.

With the increased exposure of this practice has come increased scrutiny from the public and from the government. New York senator Charles Schumer is spearheading a movement against this trend that has raised both health concerns and ethical questions.

For college students, the use and abuse of academic stimulants stems from a common dilemma: There is so much to do, but so little time. (And, of course, so many distractions.) College students spend thousands of dollars in hopes of attaining an education that will open doors to future professional success and affluence. However, many find themselves either unprepared or overwhelmed with the amount of work they have to do to. So they seek an aid. Instead of turning to an advisor or a tutor, students are increasingly turning to prescription drugs to give them an edge.

The prescription drug most commonly used for this practice is Adderall, but others such as Ritalin and Vyvanse are also used. How exactly does it work? Adderall is comprised of amphetamine and dextroamphetimine mixed salts, both of which are stimulants. The drug releases dopamine, norepinephrine and is mildly sertonergic. In layman’s terms, this means that the pill releases chemicals that increase focus and energy for a certain period of time.

So this should solve the problem…

Concern about the abuse of academic stimulants has been around for a while, but few have made an attempt to do anything about it until recently. Last month, New York Senator Charles Schumer outlined the basis for his proposed prevention plan.

According to Schumer, up to 35% of all college students use (or abuse) Adderall and similar drugs as study tools. The basis of his plan revolved around students being diagnosed at on-campus health clinics. He would require formal contracts and follow-up diagnostics for that student, as well as require detailed medical, educational, and psychological history. However, there would also be students being diagnosed off-campus, seeking refill of their prescriptions. For these students, he would require mental health evaluations to verify diagnoses, as well as parent/guardian verification. Schumer also proposed short-term counseling, time management and procrastination workshops, and medication consultation to students with prescriptions and encouraged stimulant abuse education programs for first-year students as a part of orientation.