Adderall for an A-Plus?

While all-nighters and study groups are still the path to better grades for most students, more than a few are willing to pop a pill in search of an academic edge. The study drugs of choice are mild stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin, prescribed mainly for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When taken off label, they can improve the ability to focus and retain information. One recent survey found that nearly 7 percent of university students in the United States have used prescription drugs for a mental boost.

Critics of such cognitive enhancement say its cheating — and dangerous. Defenders say its no different from downing a cup of coffee. As it stands, its a crime. But last month, in a Nature commentary, seven academics and scientists argue for new approaches to regulation that avoid making felons out of those who seek to use safe cognitive enhancements.

These drugs, along with newer technologies such as brain stimulation and prosthetic brain chips, should be viewed in the same general category as education, good health habits, and information technology — ways that our uniquely innovative species tries to improve itself, the authors write.

The article also discusses concerns about safety and fairness and urges further debate on all these issues.

BU Today asked George Annas, Edward R. Utley Professor of Health Law, Bioethics, and Human Rights and chair of the School of Public Healths department of health law, bioethics, and human rights (left), and David Farb, chairman and professor in the department of pharmacology in the School of Medicine, to discuss whether enhancement through drugs is progress or a Pandoras box.

For more Boston University news and videos, check out http://today.bu.edu

Category:

Education

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• BU Today
• Boston University
• Adderall
• Cognitive Enhancers
• ADD
• ADHD

[Dirtyeurek]

I have ADD and I am going for my Masters right now. I've been taking meds since junior high. I don't think I could have done it without the meds.

The meds will help anyone with focus, but not intelligence. I have a high IQ and the meds help me focus my thoughts. Stimulants won't make a dumb kid smart.

[FutabaUploader]

How the fuck does Adderall lead to cocaine? They're not in the same family of drugs (Adderall is an amphetamine) and they don't trigger nearly the same effects.

[happinesson]

drug dependency is so risky..Go with the natural way to boost your mind!

[Iotasnake]

@FutabaUploader I myself have used both drugs and let me tell you right the stimulus that adderall provides is very similar to cocaine. And just like Cocaine adderall can be addictive as well as misused.

[hohohee1]

i started taking adderaal and i became LIMITLESS

[FissionNonStop]

I am a fucking biochem student, these ridiculous laws don't trick me, I know exactly what is going on.

Jesus, people are fucking stupid.

[yak6ex]

Where was the study that they are discussing done?

[yak6ex]

@Dirtyeurek

You just defeated your own argument. Border Collies hyper focus and appear smarter than other dogs. The end results are the same. You perform better. The drugs are banned in sports for a reason.

They work.

[hapidjus69]

@Dirtyeurek I beg to differ. If your definition of dumb is lack of knowledge and ability to absorb it (perhaps because of a short attention span), then it is going to improve their performance. The IQ test is based on processing and executing information, which is linked to attention span. Wouldn't you say by actually focusing enough to process knowledge you would improve your "intelligence?"

[blackrobe2007]

I think if adderall could help everyone, the sick and the healthy, making everyone able to focus better and help them improve their lives then y not let them use it in moderation ofcourse. As for the risks, we humans take risks in every step of our lives, thats just how life is, if you are worried about the risks then dont take medication.

[superfob54]

Adderall speeds up my life, but it slows down my ocmputer. Whenever I watch adderall videos, all of a sudden youtube starts taking forever to load

[serbwithblade]

And I can tell you through experience that adderall makes me more intelligent since I can more easily focus on the material. At 21:40, if you are questioning whether adderall makes you more intelligent or just more able to do better on exams, well, you are questioning the entire institution to which you subscribe and work for!