By the way... Drugs won’t help students pass exams
OVER the past year or so, an increasing number of university students have come to me asking for a prescription for stimulant drugs — either methylphenidate, a drug typically prescribed for ADHD (the tradenames are Concerta, Medikinet or Ritalin), or amphetamine in some shape or form.
There is a widely held belief that these drugs help increase concentration and therefore academic performance. And this pernicious culture is ever widening, as I have had schoolchildren requesting them, too.
The story is always the same. A friend gave them a few tablets to try and now that the pupil or student has tasted the benefits of the forbidden fruit, a supply is needed.
The first point I make is that to provide a prescription drug for someone else to use is a criminal offence: the friend is effectively setting himself up as a medical practitioner — by diagnosing and prescribing — and as a pharmacist by dispensing. It is best not to collude in this.
Second, while these drugs might appear an easy and helpful and attractive aid to study — they can trigger a sense of euphoria and confidence — the adverse effects include nervousness, insomnia, palpitations and mood and behavioural disturbances.
The drugs are also ‘contraindicated’, in other words, should not be taken by those suffering anxiety, agitation or tension. And these are all hallmarks of those who have exams approaching and who are inadequately prepared.
Taking a stimulant intended and prescribed for patients diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not going to make up for lack of study and due application — it will only provide, at best, an illusion of productivity when attempting some last-minute cramming, or perhaps, make pre-exam anxiety worse. I explain all this to young patients, who glaze over with boredom, radiating a sense of having heard it all before.
But then I catch their attention: I point out that the prescription of a controlled drug, potentially addictive, is subject to very strict regulation. The details will remain on their medical records for all time.
Would anyone appoint a person who needs a drug to help them concentrate and perform if they are applying to medical school or to train as a pilot, investment banker or barrister? Probably not.
The message to get across is that these medicines are for the treatment of a serious disorder, where there has been a diagnosis by experts, with continuous ongoing careful assessment and monitoring. There is no such thing as a ‘smart drug’.