Science Explains: study drugs

tudy drugs, scientifically known as nootropics, are substances which improve cognitive function, in particular executive functions like concentration, memory, and motivation, and are used for the purpose of studying or cramming. These drugs are often the same ones used in medicine to treat sleep disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which affect attention span, self-discipline, impulse control, and, in the case of ADHD, hyperactivity. Therefore, the use of these substances by healthy individuals sparks controversy and raises issues on the ethic and fairness of their use – as well as concerns over their adverse effects. In the UK, typical study drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and Focalin cannot be purchased legally over the counter in a pharmacy. The Psychoactive Substances Act of 2016 introduced regulation of all psychoactive substances, which includes study drugs – meaning these substances could no longer be purchased without a prescription. But, in recent years the number of cheap online pharmacies has grown exponentially, selling these cognitive enhancers, or nootropics, in bulk. The international sales of nootropic substances and supplements exceeded $1 billion in 2015. Despite their illegal status, it is estimated that in 2016 alone, around 10-15% student worldwide used study drugs, with the percentage in the UK specifically reaching as high as 37% at some universities. What’s shocking is that it isn’t just students using these substances, as a poll among the readers of the scientific journal Nature , mostly comprised of academics, revealed that approximately 20% reported having taken a pharmaceutical “cognitive enhancing drug” to stimulate focus, memory, or concentration. Prescription stimulants, or study drugs, can be separated into two classes: amphetamines, (such as Adderall, Dexedrine, and Vyvase) and methylphenidates (such as Ritalin, Concerta, and Modafinil). Both of these classes of substances work in a very similar […]

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