Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board

Voicelessness and Emotional Survival => Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board => Topic started by: Dr. Richard Grossman on May 01, 2009, 02:29:11 PM

Title: Neuroenhancing drugs
Post by: Dr. Richard Grossman on May 01, 2009, 02:29:11 PM

Hi everybody,

There's an excellent article in last week's New Yorker on "neuroenhancing drugs" (such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Provigil) by Margaret Talbot:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/04/27/090427fa_fact_talbot?yrail

Are we about to enter a "new" Brave New World?

Best,

Richard

Title: Re: Neuroenhancing drugs
Post by: BonesMS on May 03, 2009, 01:10:33 PM

I have mixed feelings about these off-label use of drugs, given how easily drug-dependence can develop.

Bones

Title: Re: Neuroenhancing drugs
Post by: sKePTiKal on May 04, 2009, 05:29:00 PM

Brave New World, indeed!

Whether it's neuro-enhancing drugs or cosmetic surgery... a person who chooses these options is saying that they're not "good enough" without that "something" else...
... and it's a seductive argument, in my experience... one that leads to emotional dependence, at the very least. But, I also wonder if these people base their self-worth only on those L-brain qualities: quantity of work, ability to pay attention/focus... and if perhaps they do so at the expense of r-brain feelings of well-being... contentedness.

I would also worry about long-term effects to the brain - surely, they're trading something years from now, for the immediate gratification of the drug's effect.