Students in the United States looking to obtain an ADHD diagnosis or medication from their university may have to resort to outside help as many colleges increase restrictions on services.
California State University-Fresno is one of many campuses requiring students to provide proof of an attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis from a licensed mental health professional in order to obtain medication or therapy treatment from the university.
Fresno changed its ADHD policy last year, after reports of prescription drug abuse drew the university’s attention, according to Catherine Felix, director of health and psychological services at Fresno.
Along with Fresno, other colleges have imposed restrictions surrounding ADHD medication, such as requiring students to sign a contract agreeing to use prescribed medication properly, and asking students for a urine sample before distributing the medication.
Others do not diagnose ADHD or provide medication at all, but will instead meet with students and refer them to an off-campus practitioner if they demonstrate ADD or ADHD symptoms.
Many students have complained this process can be too long and daunting, taking months to complete in some cases, according to a New York Times article published in April.
But Felix said Fresno is not worried about those with ADHD being deterred by the long process of obtaining medication through the university.
Felix said Fresno is “willing to assist students who can show clear evidence of needing medication therapy.”
Fresno’s health centre encourages non-medication therapy in order for students with ADHD to learn how best to cope with their condition, Felix said.
But Laurence Jerome, a board member of the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance and a psychiatry professor at Western University, said he fears these types of policies could disadvantage students with ADHD during an already challenging transition to university.
“These students do need recognition and transitional planning in the move to university,” Jerome said.
He said students with ADHD need coping support mechanisms such as ways to deal with stress and accommodation for educational difficulties.
“Making it more difficult to identify them and provide adequate psychosocial, education and medical support will not be in their best interests,” he said.
Carleton University’s Paul Menton Centre (PMC) provides support to students whose ADHD interferes with their academic success by working with professors to ensure students receive the level of help they need, according to PMC director Larry McCloskey.
“What we want to do is make sure someone’s not failing, or getting a ‘C’ if they’re an ‘A’ student because they need extra time or a separate place to write [a test],” McCloskey said. “It’s about trying to equalize the evaluation process.”
With proper medical documentation of their ADHD diagnosis, PMC can also refer students to a health care professional in order to receive medication, McCloskey said.
Students can receive ADHD medication through Carleton’s Health and Counselling Services if a medical doctor feels it is necessary, according to Dave Pfeiffer, a psychotherapist at Health and Counselling Services.
Documentation of a student’s ADHD diagnosis and history can help determine if the student should be given medication, but is not necessarily a requirement for treatment, he added.
Emma Harrison, a student at the University of Ottawa who was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of eight, said resources for students with ADHD need to be accessible for them to deal with new stresses that come with post-secondary education.
“ADHD can have an adverse effect on one’s life and medication is not the only answer,” Harrison said.
“Counselling and therapy can also significantly help and sometimes people don’t know what to do until they get a proper diagnosis.”
