MEDICALIZATION OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF LISDEXAMFETAMINE BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the indiscriminate use of lisdexamfetamine among medical students, identifying motivations, consumption patterns, perceptions of efficacy, and possible psychosocial implications. This is a qualitative and analytical study that combined a literature review with the application of an online questionnaire to 221 medical students in Porto Velho, Rondônia, with data collection between February and March 2026 and interpretive analysis articulating empirical findings with recent scientific production. The results show a significant prevalence of psychostimulant use (37.1%), a strong perception of normalization (81.9%), and widespread sharing of reports among peers (89.1%), as well as easy access to medication (71%) and increased use during exam periods (90%), suggesting a functional pattern linked to academic pressure. Although some report dependence, most do not recognize objective cognitive advantages. It is concluded that indiscriminate use is a socially constructed phenomenon, influenced by institutional and cultural pressures, requiring interventions with regulation, psychosocial support, and educational actions in the university environment.