The Impact of Alcohol and ADHD Medication Use on GPA, Mental Distress, and Perceived Stress among College Students

Abstract

Medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently abused and misused alongside alcohol on college campuses. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between participants' alcohol use, mental distress, and academic performance in relation to their illicit use of ADHD medication. An anonymous cross-sectional survey administered online using Google Forms compiled 702 U.S. college students’ responses evaluating their drug usage, academic performance, and mental health. ADHD medication use had a positive association (p < 0.05) (p < 0.01) with hallmarks of mental distress and perceived stress. There was a negative association (p < 0.05) (p < 0.01) between alcohol use in the last 12 months and feelings of mental distress and perceived stress. There were negative associations (p < 0.05) (p < 0.01) found between illicit ADHD medication use and hallmarks of GPA. A positive association (p < 0.05) was also found between alcohol use in the last 4 weeks and students’ positive perceptions of the effectiveness of illicit ADHD medication. These findings on the relationships between illicit usage of ADHD medication and usage of alcohol as it relates to mental health are important in broadening our understanding of some of the most important risk factors that illicit use of ADHD medication and alcohol usage can have on college students.