Every drug user starts out as an occasional user, and that initial use is a voluntary and controllable decision. But as time passes and drug use continues, a person goes from, being a voluntary to a compulsive drug user. This change occurs because over time, use of addictive drugs changes the brain – at times in big, dramatic ways, others in more subtle ways, but always in destructive ways that can result in compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use. The brain changes range from fundamental and long-lasting changes in the biochemical makeup of brain to mood changes to changes in memory processes and motors skills. These changes have a tremendous impact on all aspects of a person’s behavior. In fact, in addiction the drug becomes the single most powerful motivator in the life of the drug user He will do virtually anything for the drug (167 Phillip). Continue reading Are You in Control? →

“Will the rich get smarter while the poor fall further behind? […] In a world where mental function can be tweaked with a pill, will our notion of “normal intelligence” be changed forever?”

This isn’t the tagline for a new Hollywood blockbuster about a magic pill. It’s the questions researchers are asking as brain-enhancing drugs are being developed and used more frequently.

Continue reading Is artificial intelligence just a pill away? →

“Over time, a memory-enhancing drug might cause people to remember too much detail, cluttering the brain. Similarly, a drug that sharpens attention might cause users to focus too intently on a particular task, failing to shift their attention in response to new developments. In short, someone who notices or remembers everything may end up understanding nothing.” (Philip, 2006, p. 179)

Using “smart drugs” is a complicated issue which to me is very similar to the use of stimulants in sports. Both smart drugs and stimulants are chemical matters that can boost a person’s intellectual or physical performance by overcoming human being’s physiology limits. Like using stimulants is regarded as cheating in sports events, using drugs that are supposed to improve one’s memory, vigilance, and attention in a test is also commonly viewed as cheating because it is unfair for those who cannot afford those drugs or those who do not want to risk harming their body. And indeed, currently, most of the smart drugs and stimulating drugs are having huge side effects which will bring long-term harm to our human body.

However, we also admit this issue is a complex one because the technological progress have been overcoming a lot of our physical limits during human history and will continue to change our bodies, thoughts, and values in various ways. For example, surrogacy and test-tube baby are medical breakthrough that are bringing hopes for many families; Continue reading Do “Smart Drugs” Really Smart? →

“Wouldn’t it be great if he could swallow a pill rather than study for the test? Perhaps he could take a pill and get a “mental tune-up” for the PSAT.
Why go through the pangs of self-doubt even when I study hard, if I can get something like this to power me up! I’ll do it every time because it helps so much and doesn’t seem to be illegal.” — Philip 2006

Continue reading Shortcuts of Smart Aleck →

“The side effect that most neuroscientist fear is not physical discomfort but subtle mental change. ‘(Philip, 2016 p 179)
“After all, they’re going to school, and what’s more important than education of the young? some parents will consider it more important to give their children a little chemical edge than think of the long-term consequences.” (Philip, 2016 p 180) Continue reading More than whether ss should take drugs →