Ethics and enhancement
Have you ever suggested to a friend, even jokingly, that their favorite baseball or football player was on steroids? Have you ever gotten a positive reaction? The fact is, a lot of people would be very upset at the accusation that their idols were cheaters, as the use of performance enhancing drugs is restricted in athletics. It’s not fair, as the motivation for these restrictions outline, that one person should play better than another because they are taking steroids.
But why does “performance” have to be limited to athletic abilities? Theresa Lii of Brown University doesn’t think so. The off-label use of drugs such as Ritalin and Modafinil, collectively called “nootropics,” is rising. These cognition enhancing drugs are used to stay awake, boost productivity, and increase focus.
Suggest to the same friend that their use of Provigil makes them a cheater, because it’s giving them an extra edge in school or work. What kind of response do you think you would get then?
When do we draw the line between an acceptable performance enhancing drug and an unacceptable one? Do we draw one at all? If the purposes for these drugs aren’t really that different, should the same kind of regulations that are placed on steroids be placed on nootropics?
–Richard Blissett
March 16th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Here’s the editorial that started the interesting debate. It ain’t just students using these drugs. An informal survey by Nature has found widespread use among faculty as well. You can’t read the article unless your institution has a subscription:
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080409/full/452674a.html
Want to read what the more senior bioethicists are saying about the use of cognitive enhancing drugs like Provigil?:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7223/full/456702a.html
March 16th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
As a student myself, I can see the lure of these drugs. Let me set the record straight first, I have never tried nor ever will try this form of enhancement. BUT, I can see the benefit. In these days, as a student its sink or swim. We’re finiding ways to survive the best we can. We pull all-nighters, we say goodbye to a social life and this is just to stay with the pack! To get ahead requires extrodinary measures… namely these so called “nootropics”. Can you blame a student for just wanting to keep up? Most of you would say YES! But it seems to even have a shot at “good” law and medical schools you need amazing grade point averages. The only way to achieve these GPA’s is to study day-in and day-out… the only way to do this: stay awake and focus!
I’m am not a proponent of the usage of these medications. I just think you can’t blame the students who want academic excellence… blame the system that requires such super-human acts.