It is well known that many students use stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall to improve their focus while learning and increase their productivity. What many people don't know is that these drugs actually reduce productivity when there is no attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Scientists gave 40 participants (aged 18 to 35 years) 30 mg methylphenidate (MPH or Ritalin/Concerta), 15 mg dextroamphetamine (DEX such as Adderall), 200 mg modafinil (MOD) or a placebo in four different tests.
Test after stimulants
After receiving their dose, the 17 male participants and 23 female participants had to perform different tasks to test their problem-solving skills, responsiveness, spatial planning and working memory.
The study found that taking these "smart" drugs reduced participants' performance on difficult tasks and problem solving. The drugs boosted the participants' motivation but increased the amount of time they spent solving a problem by 50%. improving performance.”
While under prescription stimulants, scientists reported that people's efforts increased while the quality of their efforts decreased, meaning they did more, but their decisions weren't as calculated.
No cognitive improvements
In a 2011 report analyzing studies of the impact of incentives on nonprescribed people, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found mixed results. They concluded that stimulants can improve learning and, for some, working memory. But in a third of the studies they analyzed, none of the healthy young adults experienced any cognitive improvement with the drugs, and some even experienced impairment. In assessing the non-medical use of stimulants by college students, a 2017 report found no cognitive improvement in learning or memory with stimulant use compared to a placebo.
Shortage of medicines
45,2%. That's how many young adults ages 18 to 25 have abused prescription stimulants in the past year, according to a 2021 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Advisory.
Since October 2022, DEX, which in combination with amphetamine salts makes Adderall, is part of the list of medicines where one is short. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cites an increase in demand as the cause of the shortage.
Source: Forbes.com (EN)
