New research suggests so-called “study drugs” may not boost mental performance in people without ADHD – and Manchester’s students have had their say.
New research has found people who use “study drugs” with the intention of enhancing productivity are actually worse at complex tasks, despite putting in more time and effort.
The study casts doubts over the belief that drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and Modafinil, which are typically prescribed to patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can boost cognitive performance.
Dr Elizabeth Bowman, the study’s lead author and researcher at the Centre for Brain, Mind and Markets at the University of Melbourne, said: “Our research shows drugs that are expected to improve cognitive performance may actually be leading to healthy users working harder while producing a lower quality of work in a longer amount of time.”
The drugs, which are often obtained illegally, are openly used by many university students and workers in high-pressure jobs to help them focus on a complex task, an assignment, or revision.
Michael used the drugs throughout university to help with exam “cramming” and to complete assignments with imminent deadlines.
He studied Neuroscience at both undergrad and masters level at the University of Manchester between 2017 and 2022, and first used the drugs in his second year after a friend told him where to buy Modafinil – from a supplement store on the Curry Mile.
He said: “They worked really well, especially the first two years of using them. But I used a lot, and it dulled the effect a little bit.
“When I first took [Modafinil] I did eight hours of consecutive work with one break, but in my final year I could feel myself just wanting to check my phone, which I never had when I first started using them.”
Michael described feeling tired after a night of using the drug and believes it had a detrimental impact on his mental health at the time.
In the new research, 40 healthy participants aged 18 to 35 were given one of three drugs or a placebo tablet on a double-blind basis – meaning, neither the researcher nor participant knew which tablet was administered. Participants were then asked to complete “the knapsack task”.
Dr Bowman told The Guardian: “Imagine if you have a bag and the bag has a weight limit, so it will only hold five kilograms. We present you with a number of items. Each item has a weight assigned to it, and a value, for example one dollar, or three dollars. All you have to do is select items to go in the bag to maximise the value of what’s in the bag, without going over the weight limit.
“We found taking the drugs did not increase a participant’s ability to solve the test correctly, and it decreased the score they obtained compared to when they completed the task without drugs.”
Gemma took Modafinil in 2019 when writing her dissertation at the University of Manchester, studying English Literature. She said the drug helped her focus for longer, but warns students on antidepressants not to do the same.
She said: “I was on SSRIs at the time and was stupid enough to not look up whether there were any drug interactions. I started having heart palpitations because it turns out those drugs can interact and cause heart arrhythmias and all sorts.”
Modafinil has been linked to irregular heartbeats and higher blood pressure. And as NHS figures show growing numbers of young adults are taking antidepressants, it is important for students to approach taking “study drugs” with caution – particularly if they have not been prescribed by a doctor.
But every experience with “study drugs” is different. Economics and Politics student James took Modafinil five times throughout his time at Manchester Metropolitan University, though he didn’t always get the desired effect.
He said: “I don’t think it really helped me focus at all. It made me quite restless; I ended up pacing up and down the room, and it gave me a slight headache.”
James believes there are better options available. He added: “A joint and a brew was more productive.”
Names have been changed at the request of the individual.
Image credit: Hal Gatewood on Unsplash
