Is it okay for students to rely on medication to get through exams?
- Gyeonghyun Cho
- Apr 3
- 1 min read
April 3, 2025
Gyeonghyun Cho
Korea is known as the most strict country on the education system. Therefore, most Korean students are spending their time studying in an academy. However, these days, Korean students are starting to look for ADHD medicine which helps to focus and makes people patient, to improve their skills. Therefore, there are reports that ADHD medication is being heavily distributed in cram school centers such as Daechi-dong, contributing to a nationwide supply shortage.
These drugs were originally prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but students are now abusing them in an attempt to improve their focus on tests, especially those that contain methylphenidate, such as "Concerta." Due to this abuse, demand has skyrocketed, creating shortages across the country and making it more difficult for real patients to obtain the prescription drugs they require.
Experts warn that these drugs can cause serious side effects in teens without ADHD, such as anxiety, impulsivity, and even hallucinations. Over time, users may become dependent on them. In response, the government has strengthened oversight and fought false advertising that refers to them as "study aids."
Due to their scarcity, researchers and pharmaceutical companies are looking into alternatives to traditional treatments, such as generic non-stimulant medications and digital brain-stimulating devices. Experts stress that a proper diagnosis and good study techniques are more important than any medication.
