What do you think about prescription drug misuse becoming more common? Do you have experience with this, either yourself or someone you know?
The misuse of prescription drugs ("misuse" means using a drug for a reason other than what it was prescribed for and/or a person using the drug that was prescribed to someone other than themselves) is on the rise, and are being used as study aids, cognitive-enhancers (to boost concentration, focus, attention). What do you think about the dangers, side effects or other negative consequences?
One parent in an article mentioned that "if other parents are giving their children an academic "boost" via prescriptions, that they don't want their child to be "left behind". What do you think about that?! Beyond the obvious dangers, etc... are academics this competitive that parents are thinking about drugging their children?
I remember my first week, living in the dorm as a college student, away from my parents for the first time... the school gave us all "welcome baskets"...and inside was a sample of No-Doz...no kidding! Times have changed (Universities don't give out drugs, or allow companies to include "samples" anymore to their freshman...), but I didn't realize how AWFUL the consequences would be once I tried them! I was up late studying, and decided to try a No-Doz. It made me physically jittery and unable to concentrate. My eyes were still heavy and "sleepy", but I couldn't sleep with the jitters. It was the worst possible side effect...not able to study or sleep!
So, now, many students are using drugs to help them study more than ever... what are your experiences?