Rachel Seymour

When class work piles up and some students find themselves lacking the time for proper sleep, they turn to sugar, caffeine or other students’ prescription drugs, such as Adderall or Concerta, to stay awake and finish studying.

Final exams are two weeks away, meaning Watson and Anschutz libraries will stay open later, and more students will use alternative methods to stay awake all hours of the night.

Syam Sidhardan, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, junior, said he used Adderall to stay up late. He said he would study for finals from 3:30 to 7:30 a.m during his night shifts at Anschutz Library. He said he took Adderall two to three times a week during finals week first semester.

“If you have enough sleep and you’re just taking it to concentrate, then it helps,” Sidhardan said.

To stay up, Sidhardan said he occasionally drank Red Bull energy drinks as well.

“It just hypes me up and gives me a rush so I don’t feel sleepy,” he said.

David Holmes, professor of psychology, said stimulants like Red Bull could help under certain circumstances but were counterproductive most of the time.

“You may still be awake, but you’re not processing the information effectively,” Holmes said. “It’s much better to spread the studying out over time.”

Humaira Fareed, Lenexa sophomore, said she spent at least 40 hours studying for finals in Anschutz Library last semester.

“I’ve seen people do everything: caffeine pills, Red Bull or Adderall,” Fareed said. “I just do the coffee thing.”

Fareed said she preferred to study at Anschutz Library because her apartment provided distractions to studying.

About a couple thousand students visit Anschutz and Watson libraries each day, said Bill Myers, director of library development.

This spring is the sixth consecutive semester that Anschutz and Watson libraries will provide free beverages during finals week, such as lemonade, to students who study there, Myers said.

— Edited by Laura Francoviglia

Library Hours

Extended hours:

Monday through Thursday: 8

a.m. to midnight

Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight

Regular hours:

Monday through Thursday:

8 a.m. to midnight

Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday: 10 p.m. to midnight

Anschutz and Watson libraries have extended service hours from April 29 through May 19 for final exams.