ITHACA -- Prescription drug abuse is a growing trend and is as dangerous as misusing more common substances such as marijuana and alcohol, according to local experts.

On Tuesday, two students in the Newfield Central School District were arrested on charges of criminal sale of the prescription drug Adderall.

According to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office, a student at the school sold Adderall pills obtained through a prescription to other students, one of whom fell ill from the medicine.

"It's very easy to get drugs like Zanex, Adderall and Ritalin," said Greg Eells, director of Cornell University's Counseling and Psychological Services. "I think law enforcement is geared toward other controlled substances, but pills in a prescription bottle tend not to draw as much focus."

Sgt. Doug Martin of the Ithaca Police Special Investigations Unit said while the police have not encountered the situation at schools before, the illegal sale of prescription drugs occurs frequently on the streets.

"Hydrocodone and methadone, common painkillers, are very popular. We've come across them on the streets," Martin said. "We haven't heard much about Adderall; it's not as common as Ritalin. The more common it is, the easier it is to get on the streets."

Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services' Andrew Merrill agreed.

"Adolescents are trying (Adderall) now because it's a fairly new drug," said Merrill, the service's clinical supervisor. "It's getting a lot of publicity, it's easier for kids to get and it is more plentiful."

Besides the legal implications, the physical and mental harm that could result from such drugs should be enough to keep parents and students on their toes --what they should know about amphetamine-like substances and what services are available locally for addiction recovery or counseling.

What is Adderall for?

While drugs such as Adderall are prescribed every day by doctors treating patients with attention deficit disorders, possible harm from using them recreationally is undeniable, according to local experts.

"It can be used in fairly high doses in a clinical setting," said Gerard Lippert, staff psychiatrist with the Tompkins County Department of Mental Health. "But it can lead to cardiac problems and heart disease, and over a long period of time, psychosis and depression."

Called a psychostimulant, Adderall is similar to drugs such as speed and cocaine, according to Lippert. Its effects can be euphoric, such as an elevated mood, and it can cause a "speed-like high," Lippert said.

"They'd become full of energy, and maybe have better self-esteem," he said. "It may reduce their judgment to some extent. It's a mood-altering drug."

More specifically, the trademarked drug Adderall is a mixture of four different amphetamines, said Peter Breggin, a psychiatrist with a private practice in Ithaca. It has almost identical effects as the more widely recognized drug Ritalin, "but if in any way it's different, it might be stronger," Breggin said.

Students of all ages can be tempted by such stimulating drugs because part of the high is a surge of energy, several experts agreed.

According to John Bezirganian, medical director of the Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County, college students are often interested in it so they can stay up all night studying.

"It's also used for weight loss, which isn't a good idea," Bezirganian said.

The signs that someone is using a drug such as Adderall are telltale.

"They may be irritable and short-tempered," Lippert said. "They may lose their appetite, be unable to sleep and their behavior could be erratic and unpredictable."

Physical signs include a racing heart, being flushed or profuse sweating, he said.

Adderall is newer than Ritalin, which has been FDA-approved since the 1950s, according to Breggin. Adderall hit the pharmaceutical market about six years ago.

"My guess is these kids are doing more than Adderall," Breggin said. "These drugs come from the same places, and the same people. They're interchangeable."

Coping with addiction

A local agency that guides people through drug addiction is Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services. While they don't have a specific "Adderall track," they do treat clients who have an amphetamine-abuse problem, according to clinical supervisor Merrill.

"The client would need a good biological, psychological and social evaluation to find out whether the diagnosis is abuse or dependence, and if there are other drugs involved," Merrill said. "We do focus on the addictive process as a whole and not just the specific drug."

Similarly, the Tompkins County Alcohol and Drug Council offers counseling for people affected by drug abuse.

Services at that agency include comprehensive alcohol and drug evaluations and family counseling, said Allan Terry, clinical supervisor.

"Certainly we would be able to meet with parents and help educate them to understand the addiction," Terry said.