Final answer:
Students are concerned about the potential for addiction, psychological dependence, and unknown long-term effects associated with the use of cognitive enhancement drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall, which are often used to boost academic performance or manage ADHD symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Students have expressed various concerns regarding their use of cognitive enhancement drugs like Ritalin and Adderall. These medications, which are typically used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, are known to have acute enhancing effects on attention and alertness. While they are generally considered safe for sporadic use, there are worries about the potential for misuse, addiction, and dependence, especially with repeated exposure. The long-term consequences of such drugs are mostly unexplored and their regulation is a topic of ongoing debate.
Furthermore, these drugs can have psychoactive effects that alter mood, perception, thinking, and behavior, leading to changes in the brain's chemistry. Students are concerned about the risk of psychological dependence, as well as the negative impacts on decision-making abilities and risk assessment that may result from reshaping neuronal circuits, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, the prevalence of such drug use is high on college campuses, with up to 30% lifetime use in the United States, and can lead to deleterious health consequences.
Substances like methylphenidate and amphetamines can cause feelings of euphoria, emotional warmth, or pleasure, but they can also lead to anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, mood dysphoria, and cognitive problems. Students may become reliant on these compounds to achieve academic performance or manage the symptoms of ADHD, which may exacerbate the problem in the long run. The debate over the use and regulation of Ritalin and similar drugs thus continues within academic and medical communities.