Are Smart Drugs Always Smart?

By Lia Daskalopoulos

Are smart drugs always smart? The midterm exams are approaching, and for a lot of us students that means increasing the consumption of caffeinated beverages, maybe having to pull off some all-nighters to make sure you get all those powerpoint slides read right before your exam (if only you had attended your lectures…) While caffeine is certainly the most popular stimulant abused for studying, some might find it tempting to turn to stronger alternatives.

The use of ‘smart drugs’ in Irish universities has not been studied thoroughly, according to a 2017 article in The Journal. It was about a British study done in 2014 found that 9% of those surveyed in the UK and Ireland had used pharmaceutical enhancers such as Ritalin and Adderall. Although more recent studies regarding drug use by college students in Ireland have been published since, they don’t specify the use of pharmaceutical drugs for studying. However, the availability of herbal alternatives to ‘smart drugs’ is increasing due to some students feeling that prescription medications come with “too many side effects”. 

I spoke to Matteo, a mathematics major, who experimented with herbal supplements for studying because his experience with Ritalin left him feeling “awful” and “robotic”. He was recommended a supplement that his friend, who has been prescribed Ritalin for an ADHD diagnosis, described as “Ritalin without the weird side effects”. Its main ingredient is rhodiola rosea, a plant extract traditionally used to combat fatigue in Northeastern Europe. Other ingredients include L-tryptophan (an amino acid related to serotonin), vitamin B3 and caffeine. Although the blend is marketed as ‘fully natural’, Matteo didn’t describe it positively. “I’ve never tried crack, but it feels very crack-y.”

Matteo tried the supplement a few hours before his exam. “In my head I was like, it’s all natural, what’s the worst thing that could happen.” He started with the recommended dose, but when he couldn’t feel any effects after an hour, he took another one. “Everything kicked in all at once. My hands were trembling and my thoughts were racing. It felt like I was on cocaine. It was impossible to sit still, so I started pacing around the study room on campus.”

Matteo made it to the exam hall, but he was not feeling well. “The moment I was confined to a room, shit hit the fan. I started panicking.” He was unable to concentrate on the exam. “After 15 minutes I thought I had answered all the questions, but when I double checked the sheet, everything was either blank or unintelligible scribbles. That’s when I realized something was wrong. I called out to a supervisor, and he checked my heart rate. He asked me if I needed an ambulance, because my heart was beating at 180 BPM. Luckily no ambulance was needed, but a security guard took me for a walk around the parking lot.”

Another student, Irina, had a similar experience with the same supplement, even though she stayed within the recommended dose. “I felt like I was tweaking for 7-8 hours. Sitting still was difficult, and I was so anxious that I had to leave the library and study at home. Concentrating was hard at first, but once I got into the flow I managed to study half of my course material in one sitting. I scored the highest grade I’ve ever gotten on that exam, so it did work. It was a very uncomfortable experience though, and I don’t think I’d do it again.” 

When asked if Matteo would recommend any substance for studying, he didn’t have much to say. “Honestly, nothing. A good coffee and a nice snack are all I recommend. It’s best to study while sober.” Irina agreed with this statement. “I tried microdosing psychedelics for studying. It can be an experience, but you’re seriously risking sidetracking or feeling weird, especially if you’re feeling stressed about your exams. Your safest bet is to drink coffee and get enough sleep at night.”