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We Want It All And We Want It Now

Methamphetamine And The Culture Of Overachievement

We want to be seen as smart, we want to succeed in the workplace and excel academically, or at the very least, get by.  We want to be the best at everything, from lifting weights, to international trade, to maintaining a household.  We want to be bright, alert and most of all, we don't want to be considered fat and inactive.  Superman and Superwoman can look like lethargic non-achievers compared to someone in the "curl of a meth wave high."

In fact with many people in the society of the 21st century, "want" has changed to "need."  These factors are all part of a cultural attitude that can delude some into thinking that the solution, maybe just temporarily, is some form of "performance enhancing drug."  And the list of stimulant options is long.  From hundreds of brands of energy drinks to many types of ADHD medication, people who want to do more in less time can start with completely legal substances.

And for some, the solution is methamphetamine.  After all, meth will enable you to study with marathon intensity and that means good grades and that means success.  And meth will allow you to ignore that whole messy business of eating food, and that will make you thin.  And naturally, if you're thinner, you're more desirable, right?  Meth will also heighten your libido, give you superhuman energy and tear down your inhibitions, a combination that when it comes to teens, or many in the gay community, is like finding the Holy Grail.

And It's More Than Physical

A lot of people think the only advantage to stimulants are an increase in physical energy and stamina.  But with a drug like methamphetamine, it's much, much more.  Maybe all your life you didn't feel like you "equaled up" to everyone else.  Well once you're doing meth, all that changes.  Everything you say is intelligent, witty and profound.  You can do, be and have anything you want and the reason why is because meth tells you so.  And you believe it.

And you will continue to believe it right to the point of being collapsed on your knees, begging and pleading to be released from meth's relentless grip.  That's not designed to scare anyone - it's simply an accurate description of where every "career" with meth ends.  In the begiining it's fantastic - absolutely fantastic.  And that's the truth.  But in the end (and make no mistake, there will be an end) everything it's given you you'll have to pay back with ENORMOUS interest.  And in some cases, it will take years for your debt to be fully paid.    

Overachievement In The Workplace

You can look at "studies" and "surveys" about drug use in the workplace and depending on how much you trust their accuracy and/or how you interpret them, you'll come up with different conclusions.  So let's rise above all that and look at the bigger picture.

Due to technologies like the cell phone, Blackberries, plus literally hundreds of other devices that have made us accessible to anyone, anytime, we're under a lot of pressure today to perform all the time.  In many industries, it's no longer acceptable to hang that "Gone Fishing" sign on your door and escape the world for some peace, quiet and tranquility.  Then add the pressure in so many industries of having to do more in less time and with less people.  Here In North America we're under constant pressure from off-shore companies who seemingly can do almost everything faster and at less cost. And we either compete head-on and win, or those jobs will be on the next flight to China or India.  That's just the way it is.

So stimulant use among the white collar workforce is something that not only exists, it's something that shows every indication of increasing given the factors that are driving it.  Among "blue-collar" workers, amphetamines and ultimately methamphetamine is used purely for stamina and endurance.  It's frequently found in jobs requiring swing-shift or night shift work, as well as those jobs involving a lot of isolation and boredom.

And as for surveys and studies showing drug use decreasing in the workplace, those headlines should read "Ways Of Cheating Workplace Drug Testing Is Increasing."  If you know where to look, there are hundreds (not many, or several - hundreds) of sources and methods for cheating every drug test out there.  And in contrast to something like marijuana, meth has a very short "half-life."  That means it doesn't take that long to get it out of your physical system.

Studying With Speed

We know that amphetamine and methamphetamine have been used historically to do more and to lose weight, but today we have other elements to consider such as Ritalin and Adderall, both falling into the stimulant category, with the latter actually considered an amphetamine.  These are taken with and without prescription by lots of students at school to get them through late-night cram sessions, or juggling schoolwork, a job and extra-curricular activities.  Other kids simply want to excel to meet or exceed their parents expectations, or to remain qualified for financial grants based on academic performance.  And speed enables them to "super-study."

If You Want It, It's There

As many students will tell you, if you want Ritalin or Adderall on campus, or for that matter, any other type of pharmaceutical, there's always someone who will either give it to you, trade for something else, or sell it to you.  In the case of getting an actual prescription for Ritalin or Adderall, it's not exactly rocket science.  Go to an M.D., or the Health Center on campus, rattle off all the "signature" symptoms of ADHD, and you'll be walking away with your prescription in no time.  And we're not releasing any "breaking news" here, all the kids know they can do it, this is probably only a revelation to adults.

"Pill Mills"

Of course another method students use to obtain things like Ritalin and Adderall is via "pill mills."  These are sites on the Internet that sell pharmaceuticals and basically all you need is a pulse and a valid credit card and you're all set.  Some of these sites have an amazing ability to sell a wide variety of drugs without actually naming the drug by its proper name.  But the message gets across and "pill mills" are big business.

The Busy Season

Mid-terms and finals are when both drugs really become a hot commodity, particularly during mid-terms because you still have to attend class.  According to a national survey of nearly 11,000 students published this year in the journal "Addiction," about 7% reported using a stimulant without a prescription - a trend that's expected to rise.  Those colleges with more competitive admission standards have the highest rates of non-medical use — up to 25%.  Take all these figures with a grain of salt, they could be higher, or lower, but the point is, among a percentage of students today, stimulants are an accepted study aid.

Methamphetamine is really just the bigger, more insidious cousin of other stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall, and as a result, meth use on campus is increasing on some campuses as well.  But if we accept the studies that have already been done, it's estimated that 4% of college students use methamphetamine.  That still dwindles in comparison to alcohol (which well over 70% of students use) and marijuana (which over 40% use,) however it does illustrate a trend.

"This Ain't The Old Days"

Just about anybody who attended college is familiar with the concept of pulling an "all-nighter" to prepare for an exam.  Back in the 60's, 70's and 80's, the all-nighter was usually aided by a large pot of black coffee and a bottle of "NoDoz."  It's hard to say whether that really worked or not, because by the time you finished the exam and handed in your paper, you were so wired you could hardly remember which dorm you lived in.  But while some kids still rely on black coffee and other "cramming" aids, many students say that caffeine will simply keep you awake, whereas prescription stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall actually increase your ability to concentrate.

Next, we look at the addictive nature of performance and achievement, and how various vehicles are used to facilitate it.

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