Why don't med schools test for PEDs?

[dreamcrusher]

---

Members do not see this ad.

You have to be living in a cave to not be aware of the massive amount of prescription drug abuse, especially ADHD drugs, among premeds. Don't people who abuse things like Adderall have an unfair advantage over students who do not take drugs to help them study longer and more efficiently? Why should someone have to risk their health and be pressured into takings PEDs so that they can compete with people who are already taking ADHD drugs? It's just like baseball...... Screen out these cheaters.

 

[mmmcdowe]

You have to be living in a cave to not be aware of the massive amount of prescription drug abuse, especially ADHD drugs, among premeds. Don't people who abuse things like Adderall have an unfair advantage over students who do not take drugs to help them study longer and more efficiently? Why should someone have to risk their health and be pressured into takings PEDs so that they can compete with people who are already taking ADHD drugs? It's just like baseball...... Screen out these cheaters.

Steroids makes you stronger, ADHD drugs don't make you smarter. Nor do they make you better at retaining information, except indirectly through the ability to study for longer supposedly. I studied 20 straight hours for my pathology exam without the use of ADHD drugs. How much longer could I really have gone with the pills?

 

[JJMrK]

How do you differentiate between those who legitimately need it and those who are "abusing" it? Too hard, too costly, and not really important. Just do your own work and stop worrying about others.

 

[Eyti]

You have to be living in a cave to not be aware of the massive amount of prescription drug abuse, especially ADHD drugs, among premeds. Don't people who abuse things like Adderall have an unfair advantage over students who do not take drugs to help them study longer and more efficiently? Why should someone have to risk their health and be pressured into takings PEDs so that they can compete with people who are already taking ADHD drugs? It's just like baseball...... Screen out these cheaters.

Drugs change people, if the person does not need the drug, the drug will typically cause damage. When the drug causes physiological and/or psychological damage, the person is punished. Damage occurs when use becomes abuse. If you need a demonstration of what kind of damage they can expect you can read Erowid. To pre-meds this often comes down to "will it help me learn for the exam?". The answer, based on the relationship between arousal and learning, often is no. People who take these things seem to not sleep for days - a clear indicator of excessive arousal. Excess arousal --> decrease in learning.
So, if anything I feel kind of sorry for those who get into abusing it. However, some people know how to walk that extremely fine line. They see a psychiatrist and get treatment in hope of being psychologically better. Why on Earth would I ever want to deny someone a chance at a better quality of life? Yes, there are studies on quality of life in those who are prescribed stimulants.

Should we next go after the athlete pre-meds who are able to learn better because of exercising?

Do not get wrapped up in this issue.

Baseball is about athleticism. Medicine is about treating people. How do you see a similarity. Explain.

 

[J ROD]

ignorance on their part is bliss!!

plus, unlike cocaine, some folks actually need it!!

too many variables.....and lawsuits.....

 

[Marcus Brody]

Party Enhancing Drugs?

why would they test for those? 😕

 

[sgtbrushes]

As everyone else has said, this is not good. All you need in undergraduate is a moderate amount of intelligence, work ethic, and time management skills.

 

[MedicFL]

adderall and other amphetamine based drugs do show up on drug tests however only remain in your system for 5-7 days..

 

[Anita817]

The half lives of these drugs are soooo small. Often they are untraceable in as little as 3 days.

 

[Anita817]

additionally,many people who use the drugs actually have them prescribed-- how do you root out the people who managed to obtain a valid prescription although their need for them is questionable? Are these people just lucky?