NETO cr x ‘ Prescription drug use on campus Is it cheating? By Maria Asselin-Roy, Staff Reporter e have all heard about the penalizations that come with using drugs such as steroids in professional sports. The use of steroids allows for performance enhancement in athletes, giving those who use them an advantage over others. Similar claims can be made by the use of prescription drugs on campus. Students who are using drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall are at an advantage from their peers, as the consumption of these drugs is meant to be used as a “brain booster.” These drugs, and drugs like these, are intended to increase alertness, concentration, as well as short-term memory. These medications are normally prescribed to those who have ADHD, however there are more and more students on university campuses all across North America who admit to using these drugs in order to help them focus in class and study harder. In addition, the media often advertises prescription drugs (such as for treating sleep deprivation or depression) in . such a way that it leads many students to think that prescribed drugs can be taken by used for sports; a form of pharmacological cheating and, as such, should be banned.” That aside, this medication has helped many students who have been diagnosed with ADHD, and is known worldwide to help the user gain focus and concentration in a positive way. In recent years, North America alone has had a dramatic increase “A recent study on the use of Ritalin without the required symptoms deduced that Ritalin’s effects over time were similar to that of drugs like cocaine.” just about anyone. According to the Stanford Journal or Neuroscience, the abuse of stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall by students are at an all time high. Vivian Chau of Stanford University states that “students are using these cognitive stimulants for studying in the same way that steroids are being in Ritalin and Adderall prescriptions, holding 90% of the total market share of the medications. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield of the University of Toronto says that students who abuse stimulants like Ritalin are often unaware of the risks. He claims “Like doping in sports, abuse of stimulants by our best and brightest students should be denormalized by being viewed as cheating or substance abuse, pure and simple.” A recent study on the use of Ritalin without the required symptoms deduced that Ritalin’s effects over time were similar to that of drugs like cocaine. The use of these stimulants are now being put in the same category as drinking and other drug use on campus, and university administrators now have awareness of this in order to prevent future use. It has been suggested by various administrators at the University of Toronto that post-secondary institutions across Canada should start using educational campaigns to discuss the myths and risks of - stimulant use. The idea would be similar to previous anti-smoking campaigns with the hope for this being to create awareness; as well as to look for healthier options on how to stay awake and focused in class. Getting active at David Lam (Don’t worry, we haven't forgotten about you!) By Maria Asselin-Roy, Staff Reporter ttending classes at Douglas Aa David Lam campus has its benefits. If you live in the Coquitlam area, it’s particularly convenient; the campus is in a gorgeous setting, and it’s also home to some exciting events. This September it’s all about getting active and participating in team sports as well as getting involved in some friendly competition. Starting on September 19, basketball intramurals will be held in the gym at the Pinetree Community Centre. They will be held every Monday from the hours of 4:00 - 5:00pm. In addition, on Wednesdays there will be soccer,intramurals beginning — on September 21. They will also be held from 4:00 - 5:00 in the Pinetree Community Centre. You can either sign up as an individual or as a part of a team. Each team must have a minimum of five student participants. Also, if you are solely attending the New West campus, you can still join in. One fun addition to the intramurals is that Douglife will be posting the results on the Douglife website, as well as the upcoming schedule for the following weeks. If you are interested in signing up, just go to www.douglife.ca and underneath “Health and Wellness” click on “David Lam * Intramurals.” : Since it seems like our summer just really started a couple weeks ago, there will be outdoor volleyball courts set up at David Lam on September 15! This event is a part of the fourth annual “Can You Dig It” tournament and will be from the . hours of 4:30pm - 7:30pm. The teams are 4 made up of four people, and the only rule is that there must be a minimum of one female. However, you can still sign up as an individual and will be placed in a team on the day of the event. The past three years have been a success and, if the warm weather patterns hold up, this year should be just as enjoyable. Finally, on September 21 David Lam will host yet another “Campus Life Chase.” This event is similar to the Amazing Race, where teams of two are required to use mental and physical skills in order to complete the chase. The event is two-hours long and, again, if you choose to sign up as an individual, you will be paired up with a partner. Last year, the chase required students to build a replica sand castle, solve sudoku puzzles, and complete an obstacle course while wearing firefighter gear. This year’s “Campus Life Chase” events are still being decided so, in the meantime, sign up at www.douglife.ca to participate! Enjoy the rest of the summer sun while you still can. A student’s guide to developing studying strategies By Sarah Khan r new Douglas students, starting Pressecnatn must be an exciting and nerve-racking experience. However, for most of us, we are starting the fall semester with mixed feelings. It’s either “not again,” or “this time, it will be different.” The past exam horrors still loom in our memory or we have new courage and determination. However, there are lessons that we can all learn. Time management is a very important skill to have in college. Keep a schedule for all your activities and have regular study blocks. The learning center recommends studying for one-hour per class. You can find free planners in the Douglas Student Union building. Another tip is to break down large assignments into small manageable tasks. This will give you more time to finish and stop you from pulling the dreaded all-nighter. To avoid procrastination, start early! Reading is a skill. Before you start reading, understand how the textbook is organized. Scroll through the table of contents and read the introduction. Usually, authors give their purpose for writing and outline their major concerns in the textbook. When you finally do start reading your textbook, you should be reading several times. During the first read, look for the main topic in the chapter and the support topics. Your first read should be relatively quick. Once you understand the main concepts, study the details. Instructors will usually only focus on specific topics in the chapter; so try not to take notes of everything. Personalize your study time. We each have different styles, so get creative; studying does not have to be boring. If you are an artist, draw small pictures to illustrate difficult concepts. For bookworms, your challenge is to come up with crazy acronyms for memorizing long terminologies. For outgoing, chatty types, find a study group. You can reserve study, rooms in the library and even rent television, cameras, etc. Make your study time more hands-on and interactive. You'll be more likely to learn this way. When it comes to exams, don’t waste your time studying every tiny detail in your textbook. Exams tend to look at the big picture. Ask your instructor exactly how the exam is formatted and what is emphasized. For short essay answers, create your own questions from the major topics that have been discussed in class. Don’t shy away from asking questions. Harangue your instructors, they love it.