Ask HN: Should I keep using stimulants?

Preface: I know that superficially I should not be abusing any prescription drugs, but I want to know about the experiences of HNers and how they would approach my situation. I am in the process of getting appointments with actual doctors, and I am not here for medical advice. Rather, as a STEM student, I am looking for life advice.

I'm currently finishing up my first-year in undergraduate at a top-5 computer science university. The coursework is extremely difficult, and I am more intellectually and academically challenged than ever before.

On two or three occasions I have made use of prescription stimulants (specifically Adderall in small doses) purchased from my peers (who obtain it legally). The effects have been tremendous -- for the first time I feel like I can choose what to focus on, and the positive effects on my productivity and learning are unexpectedly high.

Does anyone have specific experiences, data, reading material, etc. to dissuade me from occasional use of study-aids? Was it worth it for you to do in college? Can anyone personally speak to long-term effects?

Thanks

Consider talking to a doctor about your problems instead of asking on HN. No offence.

I am in the process of doing so -- I have appointments, and am waiting.

I just wanted to hear about the experiences of others who may have been in my position: overworked college students in STEM fields

I am basically taking the bare minimum for being a "full-time" student. I don't particularly blame the university or its policies, I am just struggling academically more than I have in the past.

Plus, my own time-management issues sometimes result in a need to cram, which is helped by study-aids.

For me personally, stimulants like Adderall or Modafinil are more or less placebo. They do regulate melatonin, and can sometimes be used as to fix your sleep cycles but that's about it. They don't improve my cognition or productivity. Sure, when I'm not less sleepy I will have better focus. But I think it is much more important to address the cause of why you are unproductive in the first place.

Bad sleeping habits have a huge impact on your daily mental health. Maintain a better consistent sleep pattern and your brain will thank you for it in a long run.

Also, I find that stimulants merely improve your mood and makes work that I find tiring less tiring. But when I'm working on projects that I love to work on, I don't need any stimulants.