An online survey of 1,400 people from 60 countries, who are subscribers of Nature, found that one in five of them used so-called "cognition-enhancing drugs" to sharpen their focus, the jornal sa id Thursday.
The three often-used drugs are Ritalin (methylphenidate), which is prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but has emerged in recent years as a campus "study aid;" modafinil (Provigil), which is prescribed for sleep disorders, but is used by some to fight general fatigue or jet lag;" and blood-pressure drugs called beta blockers, which can also help to reduce anxiety.
The online survey was open to subscribers of Nature-- who tend to be researchers and scientists.
The use of cognition-enhancing drugs did not vary by age group, the report indicated.
The most common reason given for taking any of these drugs was to boost concentration. Combating jet lag was another frequent reason cited by the respondents.
Usage patterns were evenly split between daily, weekly, monthly or no more than once a year.
About 50 percent of those taking these drugs reported unpleasant side effects, including headaches, jitteriness, anxiety and sleeplessness. These side effects made some people stop using the drugs.
Four fifths of respondents believed that healthy adults should be permitted to take cognition-enhancing agents if they want to and 69 percent said they would risk mild adverse effects to take the drugs themselves.
Eighty-six percent of the respondents said they thought children under 16 years of age should be prevented from using these drugs.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse, is concerned that people may become addicted to the drugs.
"They take the medication to improve their performance, and they love the way it makes them feel," Volkow said. "There is a greater risk of eventually becoming dependent on these stimulant medications. These medications can produce dependence, like methamphetamine and cocaine," she said.
(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2008)
