The illicit, or unprescribed use of stimulant medications such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta has become an increasingly concerning issue on college campuses in the United States. The primary motivations surrounding illicit stimulant use among college students include academic enhancement, alertness, and improved levels of focus. These motivations stem from the beneficial effects of stimulants on individuals diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and prescribed the drug. While these factors may be extremely influential for students who illicitly use stimulants, a significant amount of research has shown that the effects of illicit stimulant use may be more harmful than beneficial towards these motivations. Many students who engage in counterproductive time management habits turn to stimulants as a way to improve these skills to subsequently enhance their academic performance. Examining illicit stimulant use and time management skills is crucial for understanding the effects of stimulant misuse and confuting the misconception that it will contribute to academic success. This study assesses the impact of illicit stimulant use on time management habits and academic performance. It is hypothesized that illicit stimulant usage is negatively correlated with productive time management skills and criteria of academic success. The study collected 1,410 responses, primarily from college students residing in North America. The anonymous, voluntary survey was created using Google Forms and distributed through various social media platforms and outreach campaigns. The study included self-reported data collected using validated scales: the Substances and Choices Scale (SACS), the Time Management Scale (TMS), and the Academic Performance Scale (APS). Data was analyzed in SPSS, Version 28.0, using Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. A negative correlation was found between illicit stimulant usage and timely assignment completion (r=-0.182, p< 0.01), managing schedule to study for exams (r=-0.077, p< 0.01), and initiation of long-term assignments at the start of the semester (r=-0.126, p< 0.01). Further, a negative correlation was found between illicit stimulants usage and class preparedness (r=-0.125, p< 0.01), in-class attention span (r=-0.147, p< 0.01), active participation in class (r=-0.072, p< 0.05) and GPA (r=-0.108, p<0.01). Our findings suggest that students who illicitly use stimulants are more likely to have counterproductive time management skills and poorer academic trends and performance. This research has not received any funding. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.
Costanza et al. (Fri,) studied this question.