According to a recently concluded medical study, sleep-deprived students are using Ritalin to stay away from heat of competition when it comes to securing good grades.

It was found during the study that undergraduates and high school SAT-takers are taking Ritalin as prescription stimulant for boosting concentration levels during studies, especially exam times.

Ten percent of college students make use of stimulants illegally at some point in their college years as per a study by the University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center.

From News-Medical.Net:

“When you look at the students that use illicit (stimulants), their performance at school is worse,” Teitelbaum said. “And that’s probably because the need to use the drug reflects them being behind, and needing to cram and catch up.”

Ritalin revs up the central nervous system, creating feelings of alertness that fall somewhere between those produced by caffeine and cocaine.

“If you look at Ritalin structurally, it’s the closest relative to cocaine,” said Teitelbaum. “I think it depends on the dose one is taking, and why they’re taking it. Some people take stimulants solely for the effect on concentration. Other people are taking it for the buzz.”

Pharmaceutical abuse is on the rise among teens, surpassing the combined rates of crack/cocaine, Ecstasy, heroin and methamphetamine abuse, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Experts predict the trend will continue because the pills are inexpensive and widely available.

“Unlike cocaine, you can get Ritalin very cheaply from your friends because all they need is their co-pay,” Teitelbaum said. “There’s a great availability.”

Despite the fact that various measures have been formulated by government and other bodies, the awareness level is yet to reach an acceptable position when one views the above findings in today’s environment.