‘Smart drug’ not such a bright idea
Just as athletes have improved performance by doping, so too have students and others engaged in mental labour. But is Modafinil dangerous and does it actually work?
Evidence of Irish use is anecdotal, but British universities are awash with the drug — at least according to press reports. Cambridge’s student newspaper, Varsity, reported in its survey of 1,000 students that a tenth had taken Modafinil, or other prescription stimulants, to aid study. Never mind students: a survey published in the scientific journal, Nature, claims a fifth of British academics used Modafinil and similar drugs — 34% of them obtained online without a prescription.
