DanDan
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 Posted: 04/10/08 - 16:46 Post subject: One in Five Uses Brain-boosting Drugs To Improve Concentrati |
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Journal Nature conducted an informal, nonscientific, online survey in which they wanted to see how many people used drugs to boost their brain power. They were stunned by the results they got. One in five respondents reported taking prescription stimulants without being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, conditions these medications are usually prescribed.
The study results of the survey that included over 1,400 people showed a high percentage of adults using these drugs. They would get the drugs over the internet, from a friend or a family member, or from a pharmacist. Many of the respondents are highly educated individuals who worked in biology, physics, medicine and education who were using the drugs to improve the concentration.
The most used drugs were Ritalin and Adderall, both working well for the people with attention deficit disorder, but that obviously had a significant impact on healthy people too.
The problem with prescription stimulants is that they can cause cardiovascular problems and lead to addiction. Worst of all, long-term effects are not known yet.
More than half survey participants reported unpleasant side effects such as headaches, anxiety and sleeping troubles and 70% continued to use them anyway. They reported that the boost they got from the pills outweighed the side effects.
When asked if off-label stimulant use should be monitored by a doctor, 23 % thought no. They said that healthy adults should be allowed to take the drugs if they wanted to, with restrictions for children. |
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