NCJ Number
156869
Journal
Journal of Primary Prevention Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1994) Pages: 197-207
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Based on a survey of 193 students at an eastern State university, this paper discusses the implication of college student use of nootropic drugs (Smart Drugs) to enhance their intelligence or memory; these drugs are a class of pharmaceuticals not approved in the United States but legally available in other countries to treat diseases associated with mental decline or dysfunction.
Abstract
The use of these drugs to enhance mental performance offers a parallel to the use of anabolic steroids to enhance physical performance among athletes. Piracetam, originally formulated in Belgium, produces physical effects that have been related to increased creativity in humans by encouraging the exchange of information between the two hemispheres of the brain. Side effects include insomnia, psychomotor agitation, nausea, and headaches. Aniracetam is said to revitalize the functioning of geriatric patients. Both drugs can be purchased outside the United States by mail. The survey participants completed a questionnaire that sought to determine their awareness of the expression Smart Drugs, their attitudes toward them, and their use of these drugs. Results revealed that 5 percent of the males reported casual use of a drug to increase their intelligence, and 2.5 percent had probably used a Smart Drug. Thirty-five percent of the males and 19 percent of the females had heard of these drugs. No females reported use. Tables and 41 references