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 veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 13,985
Loc: 
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 Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] 
#9533798 - 01/02/09 06:19 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic
January 1, 2009 - timesonline.co.uk
Students should be allowed to take “smart drugs”, such as Ritalin, to help boost their academic performance, a leading academic has suggested.
John Harris, professor of bioethics and director of the Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation at the University of Manchester, said the government and medical profession should “seriously consider” making cognition-enhancing drugs available to students without prescription, or allowing them to be prescribed for non-therapeutic purposes, such as studying.
Students have long used drugs to boost their study performance. Caffeine and ginseng are traditional favourites. But recently the use of more powerful, restricted drugs, particularly the anti-hyperactivity medicine Ritalin, has spread from campuses in the US.
Currently such drugs are available only on prescription. Although many students buy them on the internet, their use without a prescription is a criminal offence.
But Professor Harris, joint Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Medical Ethics, said that serious consideration should now be given to making some of them available on prescription for non-medical reasons, specifically for the purpose of enhancing cognitive performance.
There was now a sizeable body of evidence to show that stimulants such as Ritalin, Provigil and Adderall significantly improve concentration and performance and their side effects were proportional to their benefits, he said.
Many prescription drugs, such as the contraceptive pill or sleeping pills given to air travellers, were already prescribed for non-therapeutic reasons, he added.
“Viagra has a medical use, but it is well know that the sales figures are far in excess of the level of dysfunction in society,” he told the Times Higher Education magazine.
Professor Harris said he was calling for universities and the government to recognise that there was nothing wrong in principle with trying to improve cognitive function.
If the government did accept this idea and changed the law accordingly, universities would have to develop policies on use of drugs before exams, he added.
“The issue would move from legitimacy to one of fairness and cost,” he said.
Professor Harris, who published his views in a commentary in the journal Nature earlier this month, said it would be helpful to determine precisely how widely used such drugs were by bringing the debate about their use into the open.
“If, as seems probable, they continue to prove safe to use and they have advantageous effects in terms of cognitive enhancement, it would make sense to try to maximise their benefits,” he said.
Up to now the debate on performance-enhancing drugs within British universities has focused primarily on the health risks faced by students taking prescription drugs.
There are also questions of fairness as some have questioned why performance-enhancing drugs should be allowed for students in exams, when the practice is banned in sport.
But students appear not to share these concerns and their use is believed to be widespread.
In recent years Modafinil, a powerful drug stocked by the Army to keep combat troops alert and used medicinally to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, has also becoming popular on university campuses. Drug trials suggest that it is highly effective at enhancing short-term memory and enabling users to stay up for extended periods.
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 smaerd
Registered: 03/11/08
Posts: 2,058
Last seen: 10 months, 10 days
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: veggie]
#9534132 - 01/02/09 07:06 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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This pisses me off. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
Weed is bad. Take Amphetamines. Methamphetamine isn't an epidemic or anything.
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TreeMoss
I live in a Fox Hole
Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 1,615
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: veggie]
#9534144 - 01/02/09 07:08 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Ya, there is something called cosmetic pharmacology, a lot of drugs like prozac and paxil were at one time prescribed for minor things....like Wall street people looking for a boost and so forth.
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Drug chemicals are going to be more abundant and survive longer than any anti-drug agendas. Some of us are just ahead of the game, we already know what the future will understand. Drugs weren't bad but how some people used them were and some people just were bad because they had to be.
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psilyguy
Registered: 12/03/08
Posts: 3,305
Last seen: 4 months, 7 days
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: smaerd]
#9534430 - 01/02/09 07:41 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
smaerd said:
This pisses me off. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
Weed is bad. Take Amphetamines. Methamphetamine isn't an epidemic or anything.
This makes me happy. He isn't saying weed is bad or good, it wasn't even mentioned. Amphetamines are great at what they do. Meth is only an epidemic because someone called it that and not because its "bad". There are many possible negative consequences from the abuse of meth, but wether or not the risk of those consequences is worth it can only be decided by each individual faced with the decision to use.
I think fairness would be the biggest challenge with this idea. I'm sure not everybody would want to take any of these chemicals, which would put those people at a huge disadvantage if they are in a competitive situation. But im not sure how much things would change because the use is most definitely widespread in colleges. Basically I 100% agree that this idea should be SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED, but I think there are still many perspectives left to look at before a decision should be made.
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TreeMoss
I live in a Fox Hole
Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 1,615
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: psilyguy]
#9534478 - 01/02/09 07:49 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Meth is bad and a different amphetamine, that and people were smoking/injecting it which is just putting insane amounts into your brain.
I remember hearing that glass keeps you up for a week, well I smoked a tiny little bit on a bowl and slept like a baby. People just get way out of hand with dosage and duration of exposure.
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Drug chemicals are going to be more abundant and survive longer than any anti-drug agendas. Some of us are just ahead of the game, we already know what the future will understand. Drugs weren't bad but how some people used them were and some people just were bad because they had to be.
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smaerd
Registered: 03/11/08
Posts: 2,058
Last seen: 10 months, 10 days
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: TreeMoss]
#9534838 - 01/02/09 08:48 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Look man. I live my life at a normal pace, I don't care what you do with yours. You asleep on tina? uhhh...
I'm away methamphetamine isn't amphetamine. However, methamphetamine is a prescription right now for add(Desoxyn). "Tonight you're prescribed to 60mg of adderal for your exam", how's that gonna work? That's how college kids use it man.
It doesn't have much to do with weed but their promoting a more harmful drug(imo). Pretty much what their saying is it's okay to be amped to boost your work productivity. All I know is when I am older and I have kids they will not be taking any amphetamines. I'm not into turning the purpose of human existance to a robotic methodic product of society.
Next, steroids perscribed for gym class evaluations?
Maybe I'm a biased I've lost family and friends to amphetamine's. Yeah, yeah it's there fault for doing em or whatever but if it became normal in society to be amped whose fault would it be?
I'm more for them legalizing all amphetamines then just giving them out to kids before tests.
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ScavengerType
bradass87
Registered: 01/24/08
Posts: 5,700
Loc: The North
Last seen: 21 days, 6 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: smaerd]
#9535198 - 01/02/09 09:45 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Ritalin has been shown to shrink brains of developing minds. I'm unsure as to the effects on an adult or college aged mind but I think it is likely that there is realistic cognitive damage that could be occurring here.
Out of curiosity anyone have experience with taking Ritalin to study?
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"Have you ever seen what happens when a grenade goes off in a school? Do you really know what you’re doing when you order shock and awe? Are you prepared to kneel beside a dying soldier and tell him why he went to Iraq, or why he went to any war?"
"The things that are done in the name of the shareholder are, to me, as terrifying as the things that are done—dare I say it—in the name of God. Montesquieu said, "There have never been so many civil wars as in the Kingdom of God." And I begin to feel that’s true. The shareholder is the excuse for everything."
- Author and former M6/M5 agent John le Carré on Democracy Now.
Conquer's Club
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psilyguy
Registered: 12/03/08
Posts: 3,305
Last seen: 4 months, 7 days
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: smaerd]
#9535233 - 01/02/09 09:52 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
smaerd said:
I'm not into turning the purpose of human existance to a robotic methodic product of society.
I'm more for them legalizing all amphetamines then just giving them out to kids before tests.
These things i agree with, but i still think the idea should be seriously considered. But seriously, i think the entire system of education sucks(and also law and government and some others). The purpose of human existence has already been made into that robot bullshit. I hate it. I hate how schools are based on credit instead of real knowledge. I hate how its designed as a competition for a "higher place" in society, rather than for the enhancement and betterment of the self and the whole of whatever community. But, thats the way it is at the core of things already so i don't know what to do.
Edited by psilyguy (01/02/09 09:54 PM)
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TreeMoss
I live in a Fox Hole
Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 1,615
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: ScavengerType]
#9535390 - 01/02/09 10:18 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
ScavengerType said:
Ritalin has been shown to shrink brains of developing minds. I'm unsure as to the effects on an adult or college aged mind but I think it is likely that there is realistic cognitive damage that could be occurring here.
Out of curiosity anyone have experience with taking Ritalin to study?
Never heard that it shrinks someones brain, don't see why it would do that......dopamine has nothing to do with the size of a brain.
I have taken some recreationaly, adderal too.....but not every day or several times a day for an extended period like most people prescribed.
I knew a kid that actually simmered down some not taking them anymore, actually everyone that stopped taking them.....but kinda nice once in awhile but it has been so long.
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Drug chemicals are going to be more abundant and survive longer than any anti-drug agendas. Some of us are just ahead of the game, we already know what the future will understand. Drugs weren't bad but how some people used them were and some people just were bad because they had to be.
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ScavengerType
bradass87
Registered: 01/24/08
Posts: 5,700
Loc: The North
Last seen: 21 days, 6 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: TreeMoss]
#9535471 - 01/02/09 10:40 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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It was a study of regular users who were in their early to mid teens. It's literally been years since I read it and the people in the study were taking the doses as recommended. I have no idea how people are recommended to take Ritalin.
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"Have you ever seen what happens when a grenade goes off in a school? Do you really know what you’re doing when you order shock and awe? Are you prepared to kneel beside a dying soldier and tell him why he went to Iraq, or why he went to any war?"
"The things that are done in the name of the shareholder are, to me, as terrifying as the things that are done—dare I say it—in the name of God. Montesquieu said, "There have never been so many civil wars as in the Kingdom of God." And I begin to feel that’s true. The shareholder is the excuse for everything."
- Author and former M6/M5 agent John le Carré on Democracy Now.
Conquer's Club
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Jive turkey
MAN
Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 940
Last seen: 5 days, 3 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: ScavengerType]
#9535521 - 01/02/09 10:52 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
ScavengerType said:
Ritalin has been shown to shrink brains of developing minds. I'm unsure as to the effects on an adult or college aged mind but I think it is likely that there is realistic cognitive damage that could be occurring here.
Out of curiosity anyone have experience with taking Ritalin to study?
I used adderall all through nursing school it helped me out a lot I personally hate it as a recreational drug because it makes me unsociable and zombie like ,but it was great for studying.
I quit taking it as soon as I graduated because it caused me to have stomach ulcers.
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Drizzt396
Stranger
Registered: 10/12/08
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: Jive turkey]
#9536022 - 01/03/09 01:28 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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"I quit taking it as soon as I graduated because it caused me to have stomach ulcers."
Were they worth it?
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Jive turkey
MAN
Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 940
Last seen: 5 days, 3 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: Drizzt396]
#9536067 - 01/03/09 01:40 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Drizzt396 said:
"I quit taking it as soon as I graduated because it caused me to have stomach ulcers."
Were they worth it?
Well the ulcers are practically healed now and I have a nursing license. So yeah I'd say it was worth it ,but I'd never put my body through an amphetamine binge ever again.
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ScavengerType
bradass87
Registered: 01/24/08
Posts: 5,700
Loc: The North
Last seen: 21 days, 6 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: Jive turkey]
#9538548 - 01/03/09 02:44 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I was wondering about more of the effects of using on your studying. How greatly did it increase the speed and retention of reading? Were you able to make considerable insights or correlations on it that you may not have if you were just studying straight? that kind of stuff. Though it is good to know the bad side-effects too.
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"Have you ever seen what happens when a grenade goes off in a school? Do you really know what you’re doing when you order shock and awe? Are you prepared to kneel beside a dying soldier and tell him why he went to Iraq, or why he went to any war?"
"The things that are done in the name of the shareholder are, to me, as terrifying as the things that are done—dare I say it—in the name of God. Montesquieu said, "There have never been so many civil wars as in the Kingdom of God." And I begin to feel that’s true. The shareholder is the excuse for everything."
- Author and former M6/M5 agent John le Carré on Democracy Now.
Conquer's Club
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Lanc3r117
Stranger
Registered: 10/10/08
Posts: 155
Last seen: 25 days, 12 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: ScavengerType]
#9539069 - 01/03/09 04:07 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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,m
Edited by Lanc3r117 (12/10/09 12:26 PM)
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Jive turkey
MAN
Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 940
Last seen: 5 days, 3 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: ScavengerType]
#9540219 - 01/03/09 08:02 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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adderall increased my ability to focus and retain information immensely. on adderall once you have a goal set nothing else matters at that moment. I'd retain more info from 3hrs studying on adderall than I would studying all day without it.
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TacticalBongRip
Curious Observer
Registered: 08/20/05
Posts: 527
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: Lanc3r117]
#9540652 - 01/03/09 09:03 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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How were they with mushrooms?
I have been prescribed adderall XR (extended release) for about a year now. I have found it very useful for my academics. I do not use them to stay up for multiple days straight however. They are not the easiest things to fall asleep on, but nothing a little exercise or melatonin doesn't fix, for me anyway.
By helpful in academics they help keep me alert and energized while in class - and stay focused while studying elsewhere.
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Jive turkey
MAN
Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 940
Last seen: 5 days, 3 hours
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: TacticalBongRip]
#9540853 - 01/03/09 09:32 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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exercising on amphetamine is very dangerous
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TreeMoss
I live in a Fox Hole
Registered: 12/05/08
Posts: 1,615
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: TacticalBongRip]
#9540873 - 01/03/09 09:34 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
TacticalBongRip said:
How were they with mushrooms?
I have been prescribed adderall XR (extended release) for about a year now. I have found it very useful for my academics. I do not use them to stay up for multiple days straight however. They are not the easiest things to fall asleep on, but nothing a little exercise or melatonin doesn't fix, for me anyway.
By helpful in academics they help keep me alert and energized while in class - and stay focused while studying elsewhere.
Your probably at risk for serotonin syndrome mixing those two up, that can be a neuro toxic situation...a bad trip might come of it but if it doesn't become toxic in the synapses you would be fine.
Amphetamines are dopamine re-uptake inhibitors so sometimes when you raise a chemical it can become toxic and then the receptors down regulate, that is where the problem with the drug seeking lies. People are still chasing the dragon with nothing for the dragon to work on, so you have to wait until the receptors reactivate and are open for business......some may say it's a tolerance and this is slightly true.
But the more of a drug you do you're brain will also create more of those receptors, so people may become confused between being able to handle more and not having the brain cells to actually receive more.
Having receptors down regulate is a shity surprise, being all inhibited and what not.
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Drug chemicals are going to be more abundant and survive longer than any anti-drug agendas. Some of us are just ahead of the game, we already know what the future will understand. Drugs weren't bad but how some people used them were and some people just were bad because they had to be.
Edited by TreeMoss (01/03/09 09:36 PM)
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filthee
DWWP
Registered: 10/16/08
Posts: 4,257
Loc: australia
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Re: Let students take drugs to boost brainpower, says leading academic [UK] [Re: TreeMoss]
#9541866 - 01/04/09 01:43 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
TreeMoss said:
Meth is bad and a different amphetamine, that and people were smoking/injecting it which is just putting insane amounts into your brain.
I remember hearing that glass keeps you up for a week, well I smoked a tiny little bit on a bowl and slept like a baby. People just get way out of hand with dosage and duration of exposure.
from what ive heard meth is supposed to be kind of like a really good weed stoned the first time and thats the hi they chase but never get again
i dont know if its true but i heard that a few days ago cause afoaf was on it and decribed the exact weed like stoned his frist time
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