If you could take a pill that would help you study and get better grades, would you?
Off-label use of "smart drugs" — pharmaceuticals meant to treat disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy and Alzheimer's disease — are becoming increasingly popular among college students hoping to get ahead. The drugs are often used because they improve focus and alertness for longer periods of time. But is this cheating? Should their use as cognitive enhancers be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the medical community and society? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
The panel:
- Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, professor at University of Pennsylvania and chair of neurology at Pennsylvania Hospital
- Nita Farahany, professor at Duke University and director of Duke Science & Society
- Eric Racine, director of the Neuroethics Research Unit at IRCM
- Nicole Vincent, associate professor of philosophy, law and neuroscience at Georgia State University
Watch the full debate at Intelligence Squared U.S.
