Account for the phenomenon 'study drugs'
In this part, we will help you account for the phenomenon ‘study drugs’. For this, we will look at David Sack’s article “Do ‘Study Drugs’ Breed a Nation of Winners or – Cheaters?”, at the NPR radio broadcast “More Students Turning Illegally to ‘Smart’ Drugs”, and at the Vice article “We Asked Some Students What Drugs They Take to Study” by Scott Renton.…
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Why ‘study drugs’ appeared?
First, it is important to ask yourself why the ‘study drugs’ phenomenon appeared. On the one hand, David Sack’s article explains that the phenomenon was created by America’s obsession with winning:
America is a nation obsessed with winning. We’re so afraid that our kids won’t be prepared for jobs when they finish school – which could ultimately cost us our tenuous competitive edge in the global economy – that we pile on the homework and make getting into college the focal point of life from middle …
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What ‘study drugs’ are?
Then, you should focus on what ‘study drugs’ are. Such performance-enhancing drugs are compared with “steroid use” (l. 20) in Sack’s article. Such ‘study drugs’ are in general ADHD medications which have the role of enhancing the overall cognitive capacities of those who use it:
Students use prescription stimulants to enhance their focus and boost thei…
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How ‘study drugs’ make students feel?
The next step in your account should be identifying how ‘study drugs’ make students feel. The girl interviewed during the radio broadcast states that she felt “very focused” and “completely channeled” into what she had to do. She also felt “productive”, “good”, and could hold on to the feeling “for hours”. The students interviewed in the Vice article state that study drugs optimize their efficiency, help them stay awake for all-…
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Where will this phenomenon go to?
Finally, when you account for the ‘study drugs’ phenomenon, you should focus on where will this phenomenon go to in the following years. As the Vice article shows, ‘study drugs’ abuse is not only common in the US, but in other countries as well. David Sack, in his article, states that ‘study drug’ abuse can be diminished if people choose to shift their values and not focus excessively on competition:
We need a new definition of in…
