“Smart Drugs” Used by a Growing Number of Students

(Fall 2016) Although prescribed to treat conditions such as narcolepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), approximately 10% of undergraduate students in the United Kingdom (U.K.) are using drugs such as Modafinil and Noopept for a different reason, and another 25% are considering using them in the future.

The students are resorting to these drugs in an effort to earn higher grades, as the substances are thought to ramp up motivation, focus and decision-making skills. On the flip side, however, they may also cause anxiousness, changes in character, higher heart rates and migraines.

The U.K. recently made non-prescription sales of Noopept illegal, but it appears that an ever-increasing number of students are purchasing these so-called “smart drugs” via the internet.

Instead of taking chances with these drugs, students are encouraged to seek out their professors and parents for advice if they feel overwhelmed by academic pressures.

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