A word of caution to young people and their parents: use of non-prescribed stimulant drugs to boost academic performance can have adverse effects. Recent research summarized inScienceDailyof May 13, 2014, by scientists at the University of Delaware and Drexel University College of Medicine, suggest that abuse by young people of stimulants, often called smart drugs, to help them with academic tasks, can be harmful to developing brains. Drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) legitimately prescribed to treat ADHD in children, and modafinil (Provigil) prescribed by physicians to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, are abused by millions of young people in the U.S.to enhance their focus, memory, vigilance, and ability to function without sleep.

Research has shown that “…that young, developing brains are particularly sensitive to methylphenidate: even low dosages early in life can reduce nerve activity, working memory, and the ability to quickly switch between tasks and behaviors. Such mental flexibility is important for complex motoric learning, interpersonal skills, and work performance.” Similar dangers to the brain have been suggested in the case of use of modafinil.

One of the researchers stated: "What's safe for adults is not necessarily safe for kids," warns Urban. "The human brain continues to develop until our late twenties or early thirties. Young people are especially prone to abuse smart drugs, but also more vulnerable to any side-effects. We simply don't know enough about the long-term effects of these drugs on the developing brain to conclude they are safe."

So, the point is that abuse by young people of legitimate drugs, meaning non-prescribed use, to stimulate thebrain even for seemingly positive goals such as enhancing academic performance, and not to get high, may have adverse effects on the still developing brain (cn be developing well into early twenties). Other research has shown that college students who use stimulants to pull “all nighters” usually are students with a history of poor academic performance.

As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams,www.alcoholdrugsos.com, 05/20/2014.