Prominent academics are calling on British universities to take measures to tackle the growing use of so-called “smart drugs” by students under exam pressure. Amongst the measures suggested are drug testing, with the drugs in question being cognitive enhancement drugs, used by students to improve their academic performance. As hundreds prepare for summer exams, universities are being urged to develop policies aimed at combating the use of such drugs. Educating students is seen as a key step and it is suggested that universities begin undertaking frank discussions with students about the use of smart drugs and whether it constitutes cheating.
A student from Leeds has confessed to using Modafinil or a similar substance for their essays and exams since their second year at school. They have admitted that without it, they do not perform well. This substance has become crucial for them in accomplishing their dissertation and other significant school projects. They have also mentioned that some people take these substances not because they do not work hard, but to help them keep up with the intense workload of degrees such as medicine.
The issue of using cognitive enhancers has not been addressed by universities, which do not have specific plans to handle this problem. Dr Cathy Montgomery, a psychopharmacology professor at Liverpool John Moores University, has commented on the lack of policies regarding cognitive enhancers. She noted that most universities have a drug policy that prohibits drug use on campus, but this does not necessarily apply to medicine use.
Dr Montgomery suggests that more research needs to be conducted before creating policies that can address this problem: “We need a large-scale epidemiological study looking at use of enhancers across the UK.”
Neal Patel, a spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, has commented on the accessibility of prescription-only medicines. He warns the public about the dangers of purchasing medicine from unknowable sources. According to Mr Patel, the benefits of these powerful medicines can be unrealistic with peer pressure fueling students to use them. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society advises people to avoid prescription medicines unless a health professional supervises their usage.