‘Study drugs’ set the stage for other drug use and mental health decline Adderall abuse primes college students for alcohol, cannabis and more. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder medications are frequently used by college students as a study aid, but it’s unknown what psychoactive substances are likely to be abused along with these drugs. The researchers found several associations indicating that using one substance may lead to using others – as if the brain becomes primed for further substance use.