Using stimulant medications like Adderall and Ritalin without a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can actually lead to a decrease in productivity, according to a new study. Many individuals without ADHD use these medications in the hopes of enhancing focus and productivity.
Researchers conducted a study on young adults aged 18 to 35 who did not have ADHD. They discovered that after taking one of three commonly known “smart drugs,” participants experienced slight decreases in accuracy and efficiency on cognitive tasks. Additionally, they required more time and effort to complete the tasks compared to when they did not take the drugs. The study was published in the journal SciencesAdvances.
For instance, when participants took methylphenidate (sold as Ritalin), they took approximately 50% longer to complete the task compared to when they received a placebo. Interestingly, participants who performed well with the placebo showed a larger decrease in performance and productivity after taking the drug.
These prescription-only drugs are increasingly utilized by employees and students as “smart drugs” to enhance productivity in the workplace or during academic tasks, including intense study sessions.
A recent study found that approximately 1 in 4 middle and high school students in the United States reported misusing prescription stimulants for ADHD.
According to Peter Bossaerts, a professor of neuroeconomics at the University of Cambridge and one of the study’s authors, “Our results suggest that these drugs don’t actually make you ‘smarter.’ We expected to see increased motivation due to the dopamine induced by the drugs, and while they do increase effort, we found that this exertion leads to more erratic thinking.”
Lead author Elizabeth Bowman, a researcher at the Centre for Brain, Mind and Markets at the University of Melbourne, added, “Our research demonstrates that drugs intended to improve cognitive performance may actually cause healthy users to work harder, resulting in lower-quality work that takes longer to complete.”
This study is particularly significant as there are currently shortages of these drugs and others in the United States, leading to increased difficulty in accessing them.
A report from Democrats on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs revealed that drug shortages increased by almost 30% between 2021 and 2022, affecting 295 products by the end of last year.
These shortages pose risks to patients, with potential consequences including medication errors and delays in treatment.
One of the drugs facing shortages is Adderall, which raises concerns for healthcare providers and patients with ADHD.
Clinicians have reported that the shortage of Adderall and other stimulants negatively impacts patients who rely on these medications to concentrate at work and school, potentially leading to depression and mental exhaustion, as recently reported by CBS News Detroit.
– Aimee Picchi and Cryss Walker contributed to this report
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
