Research Topic Ideas

My two topic ideas for my research paper are Adderall use in college and ephedrine use in athletes. 

The first topic, Adderall, is a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  In simple terms, adderall is a stimulant that helps people to concentrate.  I am a pre-pharmacy major and I currently work in a pharmacy so I often see prescriptions for Adderall.  Currently, so many people want Adderall that it is actually on back-order.  Because of its ability to help people focus, Adderall is commonly used by college students, but these student users do not always have their own prescription and use Adderall from other people.  Adderall can have negative long term side effects and can be dangerous to take without talking to your doctor first.  Giving your prescription Adderall to another person is against the law.  Some people argue that using Adderall gives students an unfair advantage on exams and other school-work because they are using a stimulant to help them concentrate.  This argument becomes especially important when the Adderall user does not have their own prescription.  Non-users may feel that they have to take Adderall just to keep up with the improved work of their classmates do to their Adderall use.  So, whether or not you personally take Adderall, use of this drug on college campuses affects all students.

The second topic, ephedrine, is a stimulant drug that is sometimes used to give athletes a physical advantage in sporting events.  Similarly to Adderall, some people claim that drugs like ephedrine provide athletes with an unfair advantage.  Ephedrine use was banned in athletic events because of negative side effects related to its use.  However, some people claim that ephedrine products should not be banned because if they are used properly, then they can be safe.  Therefore, an argument could be made over whether performance-enhancing drugs, such as ephedrine, should be allowed in sports.