Harm from using drugs that strengthen the mind

The Use of Mind-Enhancing Drugs

The articles: “Enhancing, not cheating,” “Popping Smart Pills: The Case for Cognitive Enhancement,” and the commentary “Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy,” explain the use of mind-enhancing drugs. This is a very recent issue that has raised all types of questions and debates. These drugs are used to improve the attention of children and people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and they can also raise attention and increase the capacity of learning in healthy people. Nowadays, the use of cognitive-enhancing drugs is very widespread as stated in the article “Enhancing, not cheating”. Its use is becoming very common, from college students to businessmen, musicians and writers. As explained in the articles, the use of these drugs help the ones that take them to improve their performance in their careers, it can be in the classroom, office, and even in their personal relationships.

Regulations of these mind-enhancing drugs is another issue discussed in the articles. The access to these drugs is not free and it is only with a medical prescription. Consumers will often get the stimulants, illegally, from friends or family with these prescriptions. Some people argue that these drugs should be outlawed. Yet, if these stimulants are outlawed, why isn’t caffeine, which is also a stimulant, outlawed? The effects that caffeine has on the brain and body can be as harmful as mind-enhancing drugs. This and other questions are debated in regards to the use of cognitive-enhancing drugs.

The use of mind-enhancing drugs improves performance and productivity for healthy people; yet, it gives them an unfair advantage over people that do not use them. The use of these drugs can also affect the well being of the consumers.

Despise the unfair advantage that the consumers of mind-enhancing drugs have over non consumers, there is no law that prohibits the use of it by healthy people. These drugs can only be obtained with a legitimate prescription. As Maia Szalavitz explains in the article “Popping Smart Pills: The Case for Cognitive Enhancement,” consumers get these drugs illegally, from friends and family members who have these prescriptions. In order to avoid the risk of the uncontrolled access of these drugs, regulations need to be created.

Another concern about the use of mind-enhancing drugs is regarding health. One of the short-term effects of the use of these drugs is the increase of blood pressure, lack of sleep and mood changes. The long-term effects are not well known yet and studies should be done in order to collect this data. This would allow the consumers to have in mind the risks and benefits that the use of these drugs have. Even though, according to the author of “Enhancing, not cheating”, cognitive-enhancing drugs have a record in helping the ill.

The articles support the use of mind-enhancing drugs

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