Are smart drugs cheating?

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Are smart drugs considered cheating?

  • Yes

    Votes: 117 53.7%

  • No

    Votes: 101 46.3%
  • Total voters
    218
Cherry212

Cherry212

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This is so prevalent at campuses across the country. I also know of students who use Adderall or Dexedrine before every MCAT practice exam to help them perform better. What do you guys think? 😕
 
Cherry212 said:
This is so prevalent at campuses across the country. I also know of students who use Adderall or Dexedrine before every MCAT practice exam to help them perform better. What do you guys think? 😕
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They are not "smart drugs". These substances do not make you "smarter", they increase your ability to focus.

If you're already dumb as bricks, adderall or dexedrine isn't going to help you.
 
CodeBlu said:
They are not "smart drugs". These substances do not make you "smarter", they increase your ability to focus.

If you're already dumb as bricks, adderall or dexedrine isn't going to help you.
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This.

/thread
 
You could get addicted to these pretty quick; always wanting the same strong "focus" every time you study. In my opinion, just a very dumb idea.
 
If they are taking stimulants w/o medical reason to improve performance, there could be an argument made it is stretching though I hesitate to call it cheating as it doesn't do what you clearly think.

If there is a medical diagnosis present (before PRE-MED) then there is absolutely NO reason to consider it any different than you taking Tylenol for a headache.

Stimulants don't make you smarter, or do better if you don't know the material. ALL they do is help you focus, which for someone with ADD/ADHD is necessary for day-to-day life and not unique to taking a text.
 
CodeBlu said:
They are not "smart drugs". These substances do not make you "smarter", they increase your ability to focus.

If you're already dumb as bricks, adderall or dexedrine isn't going to help you.
Click to expand...

Knowing your reactions doesn't require you to be smart. The thing about these drugs is that they do help you focus for long periods of time. Want to know the material quicker? Pop a smart pill. These pills are just like steroids for learning.
 
Adderall is not a safe drug. You are cheating your body if you use it illegally.

Btw, what happened to coffee? It's legal (for everyone) and cheap (if you make it yourself).
 
What if there were drugs that would decisively make you smarter?

If there were no major risks to taking them, what would be wrong with using them? I feel we have this engrained notion of "cheating" relating to whatever we have genetically. But if there were some substance that could make a greater proportion of the population capable of performing the necessary but more difficult tasks such as those that are needed to be a doctor, why would that be a bad thing?
 
Sephiroth said:
What if there were drugs that would decisively make you smarter?

If there were no major risks to taking them, what would be wrong with using them? I feel we have this engrained notion of "cheating" relating to whatever we have genetically. But if there were some substance that could make a greater proportion of the population capable of performing the necessary but more difficult tasks such as those that are needed to be a doctor, why would that be a bad thing?
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It's no different than a magic weight loss pill. There is no shortcut. If there were, I wouldn't want any part of it. When you reduce years of life experience and personal growth that come with knowledge acquisition to a pill, you're replacing the many variables that go into shaping an excellent physician with one: "intelligence." No bueno.
 
Sephiroth said:
What if there were drugs that would decisively make you smarter?

If there were no major risks to taking them, what would be wrong with using them? I feel we have this engrained notion of "cheating" relating to whatever we have genetically. But if there were some substance that could make a greater proportion of the population capable of performing the necessary but more difficult tasks such as those that are needed to be a doctor, why would that be a bad thing?
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Because it would go against my preconceived notions of what's right and what's wrong, that's why!



Seriously though, I'm not sure how I would feel about that. It does seem like the sort of thing that will inevitably happen though. Here's something interesting, straight from the mind of the late Kurt Vonnegut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvqsv1pPSbg

Kind of the opposite scenario I suppose. Still something to ponder. I guess it would just seem weird if everyone in the world took drugs and we all became wicked mentally agile. As long as everyone used it and it had a uniform proportional effect, I reckon it'd be all right by me.
 
Bartemius said:
Because it would go against my preconceived notions of what's right and what's wrong, that's why!



Seriously though, I'm not sure how I would feel about that. It does seem like the sort of thing that will inevitably happen though. Here's something interesting, straight from the mind of the late Kurt Vonnegut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvqsv1pPSbg

Kind of the opposite scenario I suppose. Still something to ponder. I guess it would just seem weird if everyone in the world took drugs and we all became wicked mentally agile. As long as everyone used it and it had a uniform proportional effect, I reckon it'd be all right by me.
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Brave New World status.
 
I can't believe more people think it is cheating to take "smart drugs."
How about you guys bring a valid viewpoint on why it is considered cheating.
 
IlDestriero said:
Taking drugs you don't need to help you study isn't cheating, it's stupid, and probably illegal.
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Its a felony to possess a controlled substance, even just one pill! I am amazed at the number of students that ignore this. If they are somehow caught, I do not see them getting into school with a felony drug conviction.
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
I can't believe more people think it is cheating to take "smart drugs."
How about you guys bring a valid viewpoint on why it is considered cheating.
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It may not magically cram information into your head when learning new material, but what about the MCAT? It is all about focus, especially with the tedious VR section!
 
haha "smart drugs" - it doesn't exactly work like that...
 
CodeBlu said:
They are not "smart drugs". These substances do not make you "smarter", they increase your ability to focus.

If you're already dumb as bricks, adderall or dexedrine isn't going to help you.
Click to expand...

👍

THIS. Placebo/expectation makes a big difference in test performance and that is all it is if you think you are made smarter by drugs. No substance known to man makes you smarter.
 
EBTrailRunner said:
It's no different than a magic weight loss pill. There is no shortcut. If there were, I wouldn't want any part of it. When you reduce years of life experience and personal growth that come with knowledge acquisition to a pill, you're replacing the many variables that go into shaping an excellent physician with one: "intelligence." No bueno.
Click to expand...

Not reducing anything, but the ability to retain and comprehend very large amounts of information is certainly a major limiting factor. If there were a pill that could be taken to endow this ability on individuals without harmful effects, why would this be wrong?
And if there really were a magic weight loss pill, would you be against that?
 
My school explicitly states that using things like adderall without a prescription is cheating. That said, the only people I know of who have used them are *****s who weren't going to be helped by stimulants.
 
Sephiroth said:
Not reducing anything, but the ability to retain and comprehend very large amounts of information is certainly a major limiting factor. If there were a pill that could be taken to endow this ability on individuals without harmful effects, why would this be wrong?
And if there really were a magic weight loss pill, would you be against that?
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If my boxers told me original and creative anti-jokes when I woke up every morning would it be rape if I wear them against their will?

I feel like the what-if possibilities are endless, but until there is a real question I don't know that it constitutes an ethical dilemma.
 
cheating because it's illegal, only some people can get it.
this is really the only argument I find valid.

you don't need it.
response: you don't need Tylenol for headaches, but it's beneficial.

tests are all about focus.
response: that's a crappy test.

taking drugs is stupid.
response: people are willing to intake all kinds of drugs all the time like caffeine and alcohol. Amphetamines in controlled amounts should be the same level of stupidity. Tylenol is probably more dangerous than amphetamines. Amphetamines also don't cause physical dependence.

cheating because not your natural ability, what work you do while on smart drugs is less your own
response: tell kids with diagnosed ADHD that the work they do is not their own. This is pretty bs and the line between normal and abnormal attention is arbitrarily drawn on a bell curve.
 
If you don't have ADHD or any other attention disorder, than taking 'smart' drugs in my opinion is cheating.
 
Osakhomen said:
If you don't have ADHD or any other attention disorder, than taking 'smart' drugs in my opinion is cheating.
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What constitutes an attention disorder? an arbitrary cutoff? what if you fall just one point below that cutoff? is ADHD really a disorder or a different way of thinking? Are the side effects worth the benefits for anyone?
 
Osakhomen said:
If you don't have ADHD or any other attention disorder, than taking 'smart' drugs in my opinion is cheating.
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1) how do you define a disorder versus normal? Say you're the psychiatrist. ADHD 'not otherwise specified' is a possible diagnosis under the DSM-IV

2) Why are enhancements cheating? Consider the parallels to this situation. Immunocompromised patients are often recommended to get a bunch of vaccines because they're less able to fight off infections. Normal healthy people also get vaccines to improve their ability to fight off infections. These people are not diseased or abnormal; immunization is an enhancement of our natural body. Is it cheating to give healthy kids chickenpox vaccines?
 
Disappointed this thread wasn't about nootropics, specifically the racetams. At any rate, please continue.
 
cheesier said:
My school explicitly states that using things like adderall without a prescription is cheating. That said, the only people I know of who have used them are *****s who weren't going to be helped by stimulants.
Click to expand...

I do have to believe this is the dumbest rule I have ever heard of.

Using adderall without a script is a crime. Cheating is the least of your worries if you are trafficking in a controlled substance while in medical school!
 
BenzylAcetate said:
Disappointed this thread wasn't about nootropics, specifically the racetams. At any rate, please continue.
Click to expand...

Data on them is pretty scant as I understand it... I think it might be like any other alternative medication which is believed to do something until a large scale double blind study is done which nearly always proves otherwise
 
If everyone had equal access to them, it would not be cheating. It's an unfair advantage to those that don't have the means to attain said drugs. By means, I'm referring to money, hook ups, whatever else.
 
cheesier said:
My school explicitly states that using things like adderall without a prescription is cheating. That said, the only people I know of who have used them are *****s who weren't going to be helped by stimulants.
Click to expand...

This is the only instance in which I would consider taking any sort of enhancement (physical, cognitive, or otherwise) cheating.

Is it cheating for a non-competition (someone who doesn't compete) athlete to take steroids?

Is it cheating for a porn star to take viagra?

Is it cheating for fighter pilots to take "Go-pills" (gov. issued amphetamines) so they win wars?

These might be unfair advantages, sure, but definitely not "cheating".
 
Last edited:
I personally just take a b-complex vitamin and caffeine if I need it.
 
muhali3 said:
I personally just take a b-complex vitamin and caffeine if I need it.
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a.k.a. 5-Hour Energy. I tried it at the behest of a couple of cardiothoracic surgeons and it definitely wakes you up. Doesnt make you smarter though lol
 
alexandertg6 said:
If my boxers told me original and creative anti-jokes when I woke up every morning would it be rape if I wear them against their will?

I feel like the what-if possibilities are endless, but until there is a real question I don't know that it constitutes an ethical dilemma.
Click to expand...

Disregarding the ridiculousness of that, hypothetical scenarios most certainly do constitute ethical dilemmas. (Or is the trolly problem no more than a good waste of time?)

The question is simple: if performance can be enhanced by taking something like a pill, is there anything wrong with that/ is it cheating? and if so, why?
 
Most Def...
I consider anything other than caffeine 'cheating'... just personally preference
 
Sephiroth said:
Disregarding the ridiculousness of that, hypothetical scenarios most certainly do constitute ethical dilemmas. (Or is the trolly problem no more than a good waste of time?)

The question is simple: if performance can be enhanced by taking something like a pill, is there anything wrong with that/ is it cheating? and if so, why?
Click to expand...

It's weak sauce is what it is.
 
Sephiroth said:
Disregarding the ridiculousness of that, hypothetical scenarios most certainly do constitute ethical dilemmas. (Or is the trolly problem no more than a good waste of time?)

The question is simple: if performance can be enhanced by taking something like a pill, is there anything wrong with that/ is it cheating? and if so, why?
Click to expand...

In any instance taking a performance enhancing substance to gain an unfair advantage over your peers is cheating. No mental performance enhancing drugs currently exist. IF THEY DID, taking them to gain an unfair advantage would be cheating, just as in any other scenario. I still fail to see a dilemma though.
 
I'd consider taking Addy or any Merthyphenidate or amphetamine on an MCAT. I've taken all those meds before when I was middle school. Souldn't hurt. 😉
 
alexandertg6 said:
In any instance taking a performance enhancing substance to gain an unfair advantage over your peers is cheating. No mental performance enhancing drugs currently exist. IF THEY DID, taking them to gain an unfair advantage would be cheating, just as in any other scenario. I still fail to see a dilemma though.
Click to expand...

are we just saying it's unfair because it's assumed to not be readily available to everyone? or is there something inherent to an externally derived substance (let's say not naturally occurring to raise the stakes) that makes it wrong to use for performance enhancement?
 
EBTrailRunner said:
It's weak sauce is what it is.
Click to expand...
ok, great response...

if everyone could take a pill which would make them smarter, and offers the potential to enhance society's productivity, what makes that weak sauce? and what makes you better for not taking it?
 
Sephiroth said:
are we just saying it's unfair because it's assumed to not be readily available to everyone? or is there something inherent to an externally derived substance (let's say not naturally occurring to raise the stakes) that makes it wrong to use for performance enhancement?
Click to expand...

The same reason steriods are illegal and adderall is a prescription drug. If a substance like this existed it would probably have associated dangers, side effects, and possible drug synergies/interactions.
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
I can't believe more people think it is cheating to take "smart drugs."
How about you guys bring a valid viewpoint on why it is considered cheating.
Click to expand...

IlDestriero said:
Taking drugs you don't need to help you study isn't cheating, it's stupid, and probably illegal.
Click to expand...
I think it's important to distinguish here between taking the drugs to help you study vs to help you perform on an exam.

I don't know that it's possible to "cheat" at studying. It's obviously dangerous/illegal to take prescription medication not intended for you, and I would argue that it is unfair that some people have access to these resources in an illegal manner while others do not. However, I don't think you're necessarily bound by an honor code in how you study, so I don't think the "cheating" concept applies.

During a test, however, legality aside I think taking drugs to enhance your performance beyond your baseline (i.e. if you legitimately have ADD/ADHD and are taking such drugs, your baseline is corrected such that you are on a level playing field with others when you use them and at a disadvantage should you not) qualifies as receiving an unfair advantage that compromises the intention of the test.

FWIW, I have never taken such drugs (legally or illegally) and would never do so barring medical indication.
 
alexandertg6 said:
The same reason steriods are illegal and adderall is a prescription drug. If a substance like this existed it would probably have associated dangers, side effects, and possible drug synergies/interactions.
Click to expand...
So your problem then is with negative side effects, correct?
I can see that as an issue as only those willing to take on those risks would gain that advantage, and so those unwilling to take on such dangers would thus be disadvantaged. That's the main compelling argument for banning steroids in sports.

But just in regard to the performance enhancing aspect of it (let's pretend there is a drug without any negative side effects), is there anything wrong with that in and of itself?
 
It simply isn't 'cheating' unless your school or professor specifically forbids the use of such stimulants. It might appear unethical based on your own 'code' or whatever - but don't try to say that its against the rules just because you wouldn't feel good doing it.
 
gettheleadout said:
During a test, however, legality aside I think taking drugs to enhance your performance beyond your baseline (i.e. if you legitimately have ADD/ADHD and are taking such drugs, your baseline is corrected such that you are on a level playing field with others when you use them and at a disadvantage should you not) qualifies as receiving an unfair advantage that compromises the intention of the test.
Click to expand...
How do we determine what 'baseline' is? If some are able to hyperfocus to a level some others only could with stimulants, is giving the latter group stimulants ok to make it a level playing field?
 
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