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 Engineering and medical students have found an easy way to beat pre-exam stress. With time running out, they have resorted to consuming drugs like Ecstasy or Superman (LSD Licergic acid diethyl amine or Amphetamins), among others to stay awake for longer hours. However, apart from being expensive, these drugs are no longer legally sold in the markets and hence, in order to ‘kick’ the stress out they have opted for easily available options like Iodex and Vicks among various petroleum products. Students feel that these stimulants help them enhance their performance and score better. However, city psychiatrists enumerate the negative implications of consuming such drugs.
Students speak
Said Kunal Sikchi (21), a chemical engineering student from a reputed city college, “We get very stressed during exams. We can study better after consuming these drugs as they help us stay awake for 20 to 24 hours at a stretch.” Said Kiran S, an ex-student of BE (Electronics), “I had tried having Iodex with bread once. My friends told me that it boosts performance. Consuming Iodex gave me a high. Moreover, many of my friends also use to take it.” However, a medical student from a reputed city college, who had retorted to such options, in his initial years at college recounted its side effects. According to him, these drugs spiral one into depression. Many even get epileptic attacks and even lose their self-esteem. Psychiatrists speak
According to Dr Harish Shetty, a psychiatrist, “These drugs do not help improve memory. They are psycho stimulants, which help keep one awake. However, it might cause a mental break down or psychosis.” Dr Rahul Ghadge, a psychiatrist, said, “If a person remains awake the whole night, he could feel heaviness in the head, and may even feel upset and irritated. He would begin craving for the drug.” “Iodex gives a kick to some extent, but it can also disturb the internal digestive system,” he added. Voices
Superman drug is a hit among all of us. But it is too costly (Rs 2,000 per strip). So, we keep a stock of Vicks and Iodex, the cheaper ways to beat the stress.
- A third year BE (computers) student from Pune university The examination pressure keeps on mounting with every passing year. We have to take such sleep-away pills to stay awake the whole day. Only then can we finish studying the whole portion.
- A post graduate (medicine) student from Aurangabad | 
