You make the mistake in assuming that the side effects of a cup of coffee are the same as those associated with "one little blue pill" when they're not. The little blue pill packs a much greater punch (why else do you think people would spend the ridiculous amount of money that they do in trying to buy it when they could just get the "supposedly equally effective" coffee?) and it has more severe side effects as well. If an individual can't handle being at a competitive school without having to resort to taking these drugs, then perhaps they should do something or go somewhere less challenging. Coffee doesn't make your heart feel like its going to burst out of your chest in the middle of class, or your stomach so queasy you feel like you're going to vomit any second but you can't because oh, that's right, you haven't had any appetite at all and can't bring yourself to eat more than a cup of yogurt. You're burning up yet experiencing chills at the same time, and you're so jittery you can barely hold your pen. The problem with prescription drugs is when people who don't need it get their hands on it and use it in ways it isn't meant to be used. These drugs are prescribed out of necessity, for those who need it on a daily basis, not for those who fail at time management and need to cram for a few days.