Smart drugs, memory enhancers, cognitive enhancers, intelligence enhances are the guises for the collective drug category that is nootropics. In a society of competition and a 'dog eat dog' mentality people flail beneath the mounding pressure for them to succeed in gaining that promotion at work or scoring high in an academic exam many turn to nootropics. But how smart is it to be using this type of drug?
What are they?
Nootropics alters the brain's access to neurochemicals, by either enhancing its the blood flow and supply of oxygen to the brain or stimulating nerve growth which shields the effects of aging. This helps to improve mental functions such as awareness, cognition and memory.
What different types are there?
1) Drugs: these take the form of capsules often used to treat other illness such as narcolepsy, ADHD and others, which have been found to act as a cognitive enhancer A person account can be read in ‘Smart drugs’: journalist tells of his dalliance with drugs
2) Nutritional supplements: pills which can be used to top-up on brain foods that the person doesn't consume such as Omega 3 etc. A personal account can be read in 'Smart Drugs': supplementing students
3) Herbs: natural solutions which aid in alertness and focusing the mind, including tea, caffeine and herbal remedies.
How do they work?
At any one time the mind is performing one task, for example while at work there would be a section dedicated to dealing with the current situation at hand, alongside this other tasks are being performed, which also use part of the brains concentration, these can be processing memories, creative thinking, subconscious thoughts and a range of varying tasks. By taking a nootropic these others tasks are stopped and all of the brains functioning power is channeled into creating the task at hand.
Who are they available to?
For the majority of these 'smart drugs' everyone and anyone can gain access to them either with a credit/debit card online, supplement stores or via prescription from your doctor.
What are the side-effects of them?
Although there has been no research into the long-term effects for someone taking nootropics over a prolonged period of time due to it not falling into the remits of the United Kingdom's Department of Health and the US' Food and Drug administration, some common side-effects that have been noted include deprivation of creative thought, weight loss through lack of appetite. Also other more dangerous symptoms have been suggested to have stemmed from taking nootopics (although have not been directly linked) including organ failure and Alzheimer's disease.
Why some people are against it?
Due to there being very little research into the long-term effects of taking these drugs some people feel suspicious of the shroud of mystery which accompanies nootropics. Others consider the taking nootropics to be the equivalent of athletes taking steroids believing it gives people an unfair advantage over their competitors in exams, job interviewees etc, and due to the price there is a fear that over time the price will be hiked up only allowing the financially privileged members of society to use the pills.
For two real life out accounts of nootropic users check out: 'Smart drugs': journalist tells of his dalliance with drugs & 'Smart drugs': supplementing students
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