Methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH) is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Prescriptions for and usage of MPH products have increased sharply since the early 1990s with accompanying concerns about potential misuse.^1,2,3 While peer pressure and experimentation are important factors that contribute to substance use and misuse in young populations, students often experience strain to perform academically. Various strategies are followed to ‘pull all-nighters’ while studying for tests and exams, including the use of MPH to strengthen concentration and the ability to study for prolonged periods of time.^3,4,5,6 However, evidence is inconclusive whether MPH lives up to the perception of the substance enhancing mental alertness and cognitive performance in persons not clinically diagnosed with ADHD.^2,7

Self-reported MPH use in student populations ranges from 5% to 34%,^5,8,9,10 yet only 3% to 10% of MPH users have been diagnosed with ADHD.^3,10,11 Knowledge about the use of MPH as a study aid appears rife in universities, with up to 44% of students knowing a fellow student who uses MPH for academic reasons.¹⁰ Characteristics of students who are more likely to use MPH include being white, male, having attended a private school and students who present higher rates of using substances^3,5,6,11 such as alcohol, tobacco (cigarettes), cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines.⁶

Students use MPH mainly to strengthen concentration, cognition, interest, attention, alertness, energy, focus and memory, to reduce fatigue, to improve academic performance and for recreational purposes.^{3,5,6,8,9,10,11} Very few students use MPH to socialise.^5,11 Instead, it appears that MPH is used primarily in times of high academic stress (i.e. test weeks and exams).¹¹ Procurement of MPH products is reportedly both easy and free from stigma.^3,8

Students mostly take MPH orally with a small proportion taking MPH intra-nasally.^3,10 Various side effects of MPH have been reported, including loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, irritability and a depressed mood.⁵ Nonetheless, students who use MPH show little concern about using or misusing the substance³ despite health-threatening consequences if usage is not professionally monitored.²

The aim of the study was, firstly, to determine the use and dynamics associated with the use of MPH among undergraduate students attending a South African university and, secondly, to determine whether MPH users are more likely to use other substances compared to non-MPH users. Quantitative methods were employed to obtain data from 818 undergraduate students. A group-administered survey design was followed since this strategy ensures anonymity, which was imperative given that students were asked to respond to questions of (illegal) substance use. The survey took place over two days during the undergraduate classes of a discipline that attracts a large number of students annually. Questionnaires and letters of informed consent were distributed in class followed by an explanation of the purpose and procedures of the survey. Students were requested to complete the questionnaire in writing and to not discuss the questions or their answers with fellow students. Students were instructed to fold the completed one-page questionnaires twice so that others could not read their responses during collection.

The questionnaire designed by White et al.³ was adapted to reflect local terms (for example ‘first year’ instead of ‘freshman’) and to reduce the 10 open-ended questions to only one. In addition, questions were added about the frequency of students’ use of alcohol, tobacco (cigarettes), cannabis, hard drugs (e.g. cocaine) and prescription medication. MPH use in this survey refers to ‘have ever used’ MPH products with follow-up questions regarding frequency and method of use, sourcing, side effects and openness of use. The questionnaire was piloted with 50 students from other faculties, after which minor alterations were made. Data were captured manually in Microsoft Excel and exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 22).¹² Inspection of the histograms with normality curves and tests of normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z) revealed that the data were not normally distributed. The outcome thus necessitated the use of non-parametric tests to determine significant differences, in particular Pearson’s chi-square and the Mann-Whitney U test for which effect sizes (r) were calculated.¹³

Results from the present survey are similar to findings from abroad regarding the self-reported use of MPH among students (17.2%)^3,10 and the finding that a small proportion of MPH users has been diagnosed with ADHD (2.7%).^3,10,11 In the same way, the reasons why students use MPH (mostly to enhance academic performance) and the side effects they experience (notably sleeping disturbances, loss of appetite and moodiness) correspond with existing evidence.^{3,5,6,8,9,10,11} Furthermore, the results show that MPH users are more prone to using other substances,⁶ although MPH poly-use with tobacco and cannabis appears more pronounced. The study further supports findings that white students and those from higher-income backgrounds are associated with higher levels of MPH use,^5,6,11 possibly due to this profile in South Africa generally having better access to private medical aid and accompanying specialised health care.

Similar to the available evidence, students do not appear to use MPH for socialising purposes but primarily during periods of academic stress.^5,11 Nearly a third of users did not have a prescription for MPH, thus indicating that they obtain products illegally. These findings raise concerns that students with MPH prescriptions may stockpile their medication over time in order to share it with or to sell it to fellow students. As elsewhere, the results confirm that local MPH users are relatively open about using the substance and that it is relatively easy to obtain MPH products,^3,8 whether via licit or illicit channels. With nearly half of respondents in the present survey knowing of a fellow student who uses MPH and the majority of users having commenced MPH use at university, it is clear that some form of awareness exists and may be perpetuated on campus about the perceived benefits of MPH as a study aid.

University management and student support services should create awareness among parents and students about the health risks associated with the misuse of MPH products. Steps should be taken to prevent students with MPH prescriptions from sharing their medication with fellow students.³ Medical practitioners and pharmacists should take note of the misuse of MPH among students and carefully follow relevant diagnosis and monitoring protocols in the prescription and dispensing of MPH products, even more so in light of irregular use, sharing and selling of medication and poly-substance use.

The study relied on non-probability sampling procedures and, despite the large number of respondents, generalisation to other settings and populations should be done with caution. Matters of representation are further confounded by not all students attending class, attrition and the bulk of respondents stemming from one specific faculty. Regardless of assurances of anonymity, the study depended on measures of self-report, which is known for under-reporting in matters such as substance use.

Future research, with random and stratified sampling procedures, should focus on MPH use across academic faculties and institutions of higher education. The views of stakeholders, in particular medical practitioners and pharmacists, should be determined regarding the use of MPH among student populations. In addition, a more definite profile of the users of MPH products should be developed in order to identify risk populations and appropriate interventions.