HSC 2023: Why black market Ritalin is being sold to students preparing for exams

HSC students have revealed the extent of a prescription-drug black market plaguing schools, as students scramble for a quick fix solution before exams start. Here’s what parents need to know.

HSC students are being offered psychostimulant drugs like Ritalin for $2 a pill – as an underground economy of juvenile dealers swarm unsuspecting teens in lead up to exams.

Students, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Daily Telegraph they have been flooded with offers to buy Ritalin to help them cram for the HSC.

Many said they were relying on Reddit to seek advice from other non-prescribed Ritalin users on the “impact the drug could have”.

The underground economy – which has gone into overdrive in days before the first HSC exams – comes as police and health officials reveal they have no data on the number of students dealing prescription drugs across NSW.

Meanwhile, the NSW Education Department does not have a centralised approach to dealing with cases of Ritalin abuse, instead relying on the management of cases at each school.

Students cramming for the HSC are being illegally sold Ritalin.

One current HSC Student from Sydney’s south told The Daily Telegraph the prescription drug “really isn’t very hard to get a hold of”, while another from the city’s east said his “whole grade was popping pills left right and centre”.

“It was super easy to get them, at least one person who’s got ADHD who would give them out or you would just pay like $10 for a few,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 2022 graduate said her school had several girls “dealing Ritalin” during the lead up to exams.

“One of my close friends just gave it to us for free – which we used for studying – and another would just use her prescription and sell Ritalin pills for $2 each.”

The latest school incident report figures from the Education Department, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, reveal just 24 reports of “substances” found inside schools.

Former teacher and specialist psychologist, Jocelyn Brewer

Former teacher and psychologist Jocelyn Brewer described the sale of Ritalin to non-diagnosed students as a “socially-endorsed black market, flying under the radar in NSW schools”.

“Unless students have been reported to have had an overdose in the classroom, it is not recorded,” Ms Brewer said.

“There is this salacious tantalising desire from students to have a performance enhancer in the lead up to the HSC.

“But a large number of the children that take these psychostimulant drugs without a diagnoses or prescription have an adverse reaction to it.”

Ms Brewer said the “illegal black market sale” of Ritalin inside classrooms was placing children at risk.

Ritalin is being sold to HSC student in an underground trade.

“There are stringent requirements around the prescription of a restricted substance for a reason,” she said. “Prescription is based on your weight, so it is risky and regularly results in more adverse affects when it is not taken by the patient it is prescribed to.”

A pediatrician or psychiatrist is required to approve the use of psychostimulant drugs.

Social media platform Reddit has been flooded with suggestions for medications including Ritalin, Vyvanse and Concerta.

Students seeking advise on the platform asked about potential side effects, with many questioning “whether users have had any problems with it”.

HSC study drug reddit thread

“Have you encountered problems using it?” a student asked. “Are there long term effects known to you?”

Students asked other non-diagnosed users how to “achieve the best results” when taking psychostimulant medications, including how often and when to take them.

“Boring, tedious and repetitive work suddenly becomes a breeze,” one user said. “The first few times you will feel amazing, motivated, with a subtle clear headed euphoria”.

Pictured outside Campbelltown Hospital is Macarthur federal Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander who has hit out over a lack of funding for health services in South West Sydney, telling a NSW Parliamentary inquiry the local health district was in dire need of funding. Picture: Richard Dobson

Macarthur federal Labor MP and local doctor, Mike Freelander, said the “side effects of Ritalin far outweighs the benefits for students using it without a diagnosis.

“These medications can cause serious side affects, it can bring on severe anxiety and seizures at a remarkable level,” Dr Freelander said. “There is pressure for kids to perform, so kids are using to help them study for long periods, but they can cause complications.”

An Education Department spokesman said it supports the “health and wellbeing of every student in NSW schools”.

“Age-appropriate drug education in all NSW public schools is mandatory,” he said. “Content related to illicit and non-illicit drugs is addressed in the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) K-10 syllabus and Life Ready course for senior students.”