The types methods of cognitive enhancement are multifarious
in their mechanism and plausibility [1]. However,
compared to the abstract debate about enhancement in
general, pharmacological manipulation via existing prescription
drugs presents a very immediate ethical problem
that requires attention.
The origin of the immediacy of this issue is twofold.
Firstly, the problem concerns drugs which are already legally,
safely and widely used amongst patient populations
[2]: Ritalin/Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) and Modafinil for narcolepsy. Secondly,
this method of enhancement is one that is actually
in current use in an entirely unregulated fashion, by
a significant proportion of the population. In the U.K.
Ritalin and Adderall are considered class B drugs [3],
punishable up to 5 years in prison for possession, and
Modafinil is considered a prescription only medicine [4].
In the most recent large scale formal survey in The
United Kingdom & Ireland [5], the lifetime use of prescription
drugs that have purported cognitive enhancing
functions without a prescription in students has been estimated
at around 10 %. Alarmingly, a further 20.4 %
have considered using such drugs, for which ‘lack of
availability’ was sighted as the major reason for not
using; suggesting the potential for a positive increase in
the future. The most common of these, Adderall, Methylphenidate
(Ritalin) and Modafinil are either obtained
from friends or online. Users obtain these drugs most
commonly with the aim of enhancing cognition (as opposed
to offsetting sleep deprivation or enhancing
mood). Whilst estimates of the prevalence vary, results
from the United States (14 % of 381 respondents) [6]
and Switzerland (7.6 % of 6275 students), demonstrate
that non-prescription use of prescription only drugs for
the purposes of cognitive enhancement poses a significant
ethical problem.
The types methods of cognitive enhancement are multifariousin their mechanism and plausibility [1]. However,compared to the abstract debate about enhancement ingeneral, pharmacological manipulation via existing prescriptiondrugs presents a very immediate ethical problemthat requires attention.The origin of the immediacy of this issue is twofold.Firstly, the problem concerns drugs which are already legally,safely and widely used amongst patient populations[2]: Ritalin/Adderall for Attention Deficit HyperactivityDisorder (ADHD) and Modafinil for narcolepsy. Secondly,this method of enhancement is one that is actuallyin current use in an entirely unregulated fashion, bya significant proportion of the population. In the U.K.Ritalin and Adderall are considered class B drugs [3],punishable up to 5 years in prison for possession, andModafinil is considered a prescription only medicine [4].In the most recent large scale formal survey in TheUnited Kingdom & Ireland [5], the lifetime use of prescriptiondrugs that have purported cognitive enhancingfunctions without a prescription in students has been estimatedat around 10 %. Alarmingly, a further 20.4 %have considered using such drugs, for which ‘lack ofavailability’ was sighted as the major reason for notusing; suggesting the potential for a positive increase inthe future. The most common of these, Adderall, Methylphenidate(Ritalin) and Modafinil are either obtainedfrom friends or online. Users obtain these drugs mostcommonly with the aim of enhancing cognition (as opposedto offsetting sleep deprivation or enhancingmood). Whilst estimates of the prevalence vary, resultsfrom the United States (14 % of 381 respondents) [6]and Switzerland (7.6 % of 6275 students), demonstratethat non-prescription use of prescription only drugs forthe purposes of cognitive enhancement poses a significantethical problem.
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