Ritalin and other drugs help boost brain power

[Poins]

"Brain boosting drugs need not be feared www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026863.400-brainboosting-drugs-not-to-be-feared.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&n sref=online-news"

Yeahbut, thats what we were sort of coming round to, that the potential benefits of taking a lifestyle drug (as opposed to something that you need for your blood pressure or whatever) dont really outweigh the side-effects, but MT went off on a tangent about penicillin and chemotherapy instead.

may I ask where you got your final sentence from, that ritalin wont have an effect on someone who is functioning "properly" (whatever that may mean)?

it seems that many university students in the US are taking ritalin in the belief that it does improve their cognitive power.

Your not supposed to NN! Threads like this have a habit of getting a tad too sanctimonious.

lol StuffMyTurkey. Thing is it's easy to feel patronised if your taking yourself (speaking generally here) a bit too serioulsy and someone else is taking your argument lightly. It's the most useful lesson I've learnt.

Recreational drugs have always been good to me

I don't agree that potential side effects outweigh benefits.

I can't possibly feel patronised by someone who doesn't know the difference between "You're" and "Your."

Ritalin and lifestyle drugs are a serious subject. If you don't want to talk about them, why post on this thread?

oh god no I don't take myself too seriously
only too ready too admit the gaps in my knowledge (as you'd realise if you'd read what I said!

I take this sort of spiel seriously though ..some people read and believe

but I am not amazed by it never amazed by this sort of thing or the views that are held around it far too cynical for that

Well, tbh, cote, I dont really care if a few idiots are taking ritalin at university to improve their marks. (not suggesting that you did that)

I am more concerned that ritalin is seen as a drug that can be prescribed as a cure-all for many childhood problems. this is not perhaps so widespread in the UK. I am in Germany.

MP I've just read again and I really think you are so SO patronising! well tonight anyway

MT of course
morning paper nowhere to be seen

don't forget that this so called "lifestyle drug" is something that many people have to take in order to function normally.

Why is this though dragon? Why do so many people need to take this drug to function normally?

how should I know? I'm not a doctor. I do know of people who function so much better on Ritalin than off it. I'm not advocating its use where there is no clinical need.

It was rhetorical really Dragon. I'm cross at the fact not at you.

actually not cross but y'know

"I dont really care if a few idiots are taking ritalin at university to improve their marks."

Oh dear NN. Do you want a shovel?

I don't knowe the difference between there, their and they're. I'm obviosly an idiot. You can sleep well tonight knowing that.

I don't understand your last post, MT. Would you care to elaborate? If you post something stupid, I probably won't reply, though.

Soupdragon, I think the medical use is distinct from the lifestyle use, and wouldn't knock anyone who needs it.
Though I would also go along with what a lot of other parents have said on MN, that they would try non-drug treatments first.

NbyN - I graduated from university 15 years ago. There was no Ritalin back then.

And anyway, drugs I have known and loved have all been for fun, not for academic achievement.

Even then, I disagree with your view that potential side effects outweigh benefits of lifestyle drugs. Surely, that is a very personal assessment and not a general one. Do potential side effects of alcohol outweigh its benefits?

cote - I wasnt talking about "traditional" lifestyle drugs. It seems that a load of new ones are coming along, that are different from the ones that we know and, er, love.

You'd think cynicism was a good thing.

"I take this sort of spiel seriously though ..some people read and believe"

So that's the worry? You believe many of the people reading New Scientist are idiots, (or at least less intellegent that you) so quote selective statistics of dubious provenance, whilst also claiming the high moral ground for yourself.

As Mr Spock would say, interesting.

A shovel, NN, for that hole you seem intent on digging yoursel in

Well, NbN, you need to consider that when posting how evil it is. Drugs are not usually the first course of action for any parent and they have already had to deal with the risks involved v the benefits. Consider how you phrase stuff like that before posting.

Soupdragon, this thread is specifically about abusing ritalin, not using it.

It's about people who have NO clinical need to take it, taking it.

Any drug that your child is prescribed has side effects. That's why they are on prescription, not popped like smarties by students seeking higher marks!

You used the word evil. I didn't.

er what? I believe people are less intelligent than me because what? I believe people are idiots because why?

not at all

MT you are not liking something ..that people have different views from you? is that not allowed?

I still don't understand why it would be acceptable to use Ritalin to 'boost brain power' to pass exams but it's not considered okay to use say steroids to enhance physical performance in athletic competitions. What's the difference?
And if it became the norm to use drugs to pass exams where would that leave people who would prefer not to use drugs and just depend on their unenhanced abilities?
I find it confusing why it's seemingly okay to enhance mentally but not physically.