One in five university professors take ‘smart drugs’ to boost their brain power

Would you take a pill to boost your brain power? Academics and students are doing it already – using synthetic drugs bought on the internet.

The drugs – such as modafinil – are used to boost concentration, and are widely used in academia, Dr Hannah Critchlow claimed at this year’s Hay Festival.

The FT claimed last year that drugs such as modafinil – as well as stronger stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin – are, ‘becoming popular among city lawyers, bankers, and other professionals keen to gain a competitive advantage over colleagues.’

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Modafinil is usually prescribed for conditions such as narcolepsy and is given to law enforcement and military personnel working long hours.

Dr Critchlow said ‘Can you expand your mind and open your mind and increase your attention and focus?

‘Well one in ten students at Cambridge University now admit to buying smart drugs off the internet in the hope of being able to do just this.

‘They are typically prescribed for people with attention hyperactivity disorder or Alzhiemer’s to improve their memory and their focus and these students are buying these drugs off the internet so it’s not particularly legal and it’s a dangerous thing to do.

‘They are taking them in the hope it will help with the revision for their exams. They do seem to increase working memory. One in five academic professors also admit to taking them, so in order to help with their grant writing and committee meeting concentrating.

‘So I’m not advocating that people go out and take this Modafanil in order to help with focus and attention, what the drugs will be doing to the young brain, the long term effects are not known yet.’