Cognitive-Enhancing Drugs - Essay Example

? Introduction in academic s nowadays are involving themselves with the use of cognitive enhancing drugs. This is order for them to get competitive grades that can compete in the cutthroat academic, field in the U.S. This may be due to pressure to excel or sheer laziness by the user to get an unmerited improvement over his or her classmates. Examples of commonly used cognitive drugs or “smart drugs” include drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin. These drugs are purchased from illegal pushers who lurk around campus premises countrywide and can be easily accessed by any student. How the Drug Works Cognitive drugs enhance the mental functions of a person significantly. This works when a human brain’s neurotransmitter is stimulated causing a reaction. Dopamine is release in large quantities by neurons causing a human brain to be more active in remembering information, and attention and thinking is enhanced by the use of these drugs. Cognitive drugs were created for helping to cure mental disorders. A common example of such disorder is AHDH, which is a mental disorder common in infants. Cognitive drugs like Ritalin are used to prevent the babies from hurting themselves due to their condition. This drugs help in controlling hyperactivity among the infants. Harmful Effects Cognitive-enhancing drugs are harmful to the students and, therefore, the use of these drugs should be blocked. Appropriate actions should be set to help the society to understand the effects of these drugs by introducing amendments to regulate their use in University campuses. The prescription drugs should only be used for their intended function and that is to cure mental disorders. The use of these drugs should be discouraged to safeguard the health of students and protected from the negative effects of potential abuse. Therefore, a policy restricting its use should be put in place, since the drugs are essential in the cure of mental diseases such as the ADHD in infants. They should not be totally banned, but enhancements to be available, at the same time managing the risks. Risks of Cognitive-enhancing Drugs There many risks that are associated with the abuse of cognitive enhancement drugs that students buy and sell in the United States. The Ritalin and Adderall drugs are prescribed for the treatment of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They have an effect on catecholamine systems by increasing cognitive functions of the patients; the normal people who are healthy, once they use these drugs, they improve their ability to focus their attention better, as well as manipulating the information into a working memory, and to control the responses in a flexible way. Student also use drugs such as Modalfinil, to enhance their cognitive abilities since it has shown the enhancement potential. Modalfinil treats fatigue, which is caused by sleep apnoea (Greely, 2008). The research has also shown that there are some other effects caused by the drug. Modalfinil enhances some aspects of the brain function that occurs in the rested adults who are healthy, mostly inhibitory control. The hazards of these drugs used by the students in the US affects not only their mental but also physical health. These drugs tend to alter the brain function of those who take them. A recently carried out research shows that, there are neural system changes, which are engendered by sleep and nutrition. There are some complex organs of the human beings which are also affected by use of such drugs. However, in children, an issue about the drug is raised in that it is related to some harmful effects on children’s brain. Benefits of Cognitive-enhancing drugs There are some benefits that are associated with the use of cognitive-enhancing drugs, mostly in schools and other organizations. In special cases, students and employers are supposed to be allowed to use the drugs so as to achieve pharmaceutical enhancement in cases of mental disorders. This enables the student to compete fairly with normal students regardless of their shortcomings. In contrast to the risks of cognitive-enhancing drugs, there are some benefits that are associated with them. In some situations, in education institutions, cognitive enhancement are required for almost all children, at some considerable cost to their liberty, while employers are, on the other hand, free to necessitate the employees to have educational credentials, as well as obtaining them. The drugs like Modafinil in the United States are legally allowed or accepted, and it has mostly been offered to the soldiers to enhance alertness in them, which is extremely significant for the sake of good performance during their work as militaries. It might not be wrong to acquire the cognitive-enhancing drugs for risky operations; therefore, there should be an appropriate policy, which prohibits their use, apart from specific occupations, which are justified by the substantial gains in safety (Greely, 2008). The policy should try to discourage an indirect coercion. Employers, the schools, and the government institutions should never indulge in the use cognitive enhancing drugs unnecessarily, but they should use them if only the enhancements are revealed to be sufficiently safe, as well as effective. Another benefit of the cognitive-enhancing drugs is that they encourage order and raise the standardized measures of achievements in students who are interested in education. It also promotes the higher productivity in the working places, which is in the interests of the employers. Proposed Mechanisms Outlined in Greely's Argument Greely however, argues that there are some mechanisms which should be proposed in regards to the use of the cognitive-enhancing drugs. The first mechanism suggested by Greely was, to propose a programme of research on how to build on the base of knowledge that will be related to the usage of the drugs by students, as well as knowing the importance of the risks which are connected to the use of cognitive enhancement drugs. For example, researching on the effects of drugs on students in the US, and the dependence risks of cognitive enhancement. Greely, therefore, proposes that the programme of the research should be carried out on the use and the impacts of the cognitive-enhancing drugs by healthy persons (Greely, 2008). The other mechanism in Greely’s arguments was on the participation of professional organizations in policy formulation on the issue of cognitive drug use the organizations should take part in the formulating of a strategy for the employees concerning the issues of cognitive enhancement. He argues that there are limits caused by the use of those drugs, which include the psychological screening of the candidates for the cosmetic surgery or the tubal litigations. The above limit may not be specified by the law; however, it might be specified by the professional standards (Lerer, 2002). Another mechanism, according to Greely’s arguments, concerns education and better understanding of cognitive enhancement by the public. The education is to be provided by physicians and the teachers. It involves the discussion on ways of how cognition can be enhanced by sleeping enough or adequate exercises that would make the cognitive capacities better. He proposes on calling for the information to be disseminated regarding the risks, benefits and alternatives to the pharmaceutical cognitive enhancement (Greely, 2008). The last mechanism of Greely’s argument was about the legislation, which involves new laws or regulatory agencies that are not required; instead, the existing laws should be brought into line with an emerging of social norms, as well as information on safety. The laws stated should be adjusted to make felons out of those who seek to use the safe cognitive enhancements. Conclusion Similar to new technologies, there could be good or poor usage of cognitive enhancement. New methods should be welcomed to develop the brain function. In a world where humans work for considerable long hours, which are always increasing, cognitive enhancement tools, such as pharmacological, can be progressively more useful for improving the quality of life and extending the productivity of the work, when it comes to the pathological age related to cognitive declines. Safe and effective cognitive enhancers are, most probably, to benefit individually and socially (Greely, 2008). References Greely, H. B. (2008). Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by healthy. New York: Cambridge University Press. Lerer, B. (2002). Pharmacogenetics of psychotropic drugs. London: Cambridge University Press. Read More