Smart drugs are increasingly taking over the minds of university students when deadlines are looming by. These days, smart drugs are no longer discussed in the deep web and are being talked about on social media with Youtube Channels popping up with review videos.
Luciminal, A Youtuber who talks about smart drugs
“It doesn’t make you smart but rather, it gives you a higher sense of motivation to actually do your work."
Every Side Of Life spoke anonymously to a University of Liverpool student, who we will call Mark. He said there is a false perception that smart drugs is a miracle worker. “It doesn’t make you smart but rather, it gives you a higher sense of motivation to actually do your work. It’s that extra push and determination that you get from Modafinil.”
This February, The Guardian wrote an article about how students now turn to drugs to get smart. One infamous drug is called Modafinil which Mark describes as the Holy Grail of smart drugs. Modafinil isprescribed to Narcolepsy patients but also taken by students and professionals alike.
It is said to give a productive and tunnel-vision like focussed day. Many who use it have said they become so focussed in doing their work that they even forget to eat and sleep - enough to win any student over.
It does not just end at Modafinil. There are several other tablet and powdered substances that working people and students use just so they can keep up with their highly demanding daily expectations.
Smart drugs has another name, Nootropics. These enhancers, as users call it, are to increase your abilities and capabilities.
This February, The Guardian wrote an article about how students now turn to drugs to get smart. One infamous drug is called Modafinil which Mark describes as the Holy Grail of smart drugs. Modafinil isprescribed to Narcolepsy patients but also taken by students and professionals alike.
It is said to give a productive and tunnel-vision like focussed day. Many who use it have said they become so focussed in doing their work that they even forget to eat and sleep - enough to win any student over.
It does not just end at Modafinil. There are several other tablet and powdered substances that working people and students use just so they can keep up with their highly demanding daily expectations.
Smart drugs has another name, Nootropics. These enhancers, as users call it, are to increase your abilities and capabilities.
"They are not drugs. They are supplements."
Impressed with the effects of Modafinil, Mark started to do his research on Reddit and other forums to see if he can get his hands on other smart drugs. He found his other kicks from powdered substances such as Noopept, Phenylpiracetam and Choline.
The packaging of this drugs clearly has instructions that directly translates to “use at your own risk.” and that they have not been evaluated by Food and Drugs Administration. Much to most people’s surprise, these products are being sold online by UK e-commerce sites.
The packaging of this drugs clearly has instructions that directly translates to “use at your own risk.” and that they have not been evaluated by Food and Drugs Administration. Much to most people’s surprise, these products are being sold online by UK e-commerce sites.
"I just want to keep taking them so I can keep achieving my goals.”
“Of course the mainstream media would immediately pounce on the idea of making students look bad the moment these enhancers are being called drugs instead. They are not drugs. They are supplements. Like how you would take your vitamin tablets.”
The Computer Science student said he is part of a Facebook group where surgeons, scientists, lawyers and people of all professions discuss Nootropics and most of them talk about how it has changed their lives.
For Mark, there may be a day where he comes off Nootropics but he has yet to feel a side effect and said he would be taking them as long as he needs to be productive.
“I have never been so involved with my university work as I was and I have taken interest in so many other things. It is such a great feeling to be productive.”
The Computer Science student said he is part of a Facebook group where surgeons, scientists, lawyers and people of all professions discuss Nootropics and most of them talk about how it has changed their lives.
For Mark, there may be a day where he comes off Nootropics but he has yet to feel a side effect and said he would be taking them as long as he needs to be productive.
“I have never been so involved with my university work as I was and I have taken interest in so many other things. It is such a great feeling to be productive.”
"More and more of the people in my seminar were achieving more than me."
These positive feedback would make anyone jump at the chance of quickly typing in “Nootropics” in their search engine but Mark recommends to still see your GP to ensure you would not react to these drugs.
After all, drugs like Noopept were made in Russia and has yet to be tested in the UK. Modafinil is only prescribed to Narcolepsy patients and so, people buy them from fellow students or from traders in foreign land like India.
Jenny*, a University of Sheffield student, said she would never go near smart drugs after using them twice. During the Chemistry student's exam period, she was jealous of her other friends who she knew were taking smart drugs and achieving much higher grades than her. “It was hard for me to stay focussed as a student because of all the distractions. More and more of the people in my seminar were achieving more than me which just made me want to quit.”
She then found out how she was in the dark with smart drugs and felt it was unfair that people who did not attend seminars somehow achieved more than her. She finally gave in and bought 30 tablets from a trusted online retailer. This was when it all went wrong.
After all, drugs like Noopept were made in Russia and has yet to be tested in the UK. Modafinil is only prescribed to Narcolepsy patients and so, people buy them from fellow students or from traders in foreign land like India.
Jenny*, a University of Sheffield student, said she would never go near smart drugs after using them twice. During the Chemistry student's exam period, she was jealous of her other friends who she knew were taking smart drugs and achieving much higher grades than her. “It was hard for me to stay focussed as a student because of all the distractions. More and more of the people in my seminar were achieving more than me which just made me want to quit.”
She then found out how she was in the dark with smart drugs and felt it was unfair that people who did not attend seminars somehow achieved more than her. She finally gave in and bought 30 tablets from a trusted online retailer. This was when it all went wrong.
"The irony of dying from a smart drug than an actual narcotic was unreal.”
She had two exams the week she decided to take 100mg of Modafinil which is a low dose. Just after an hour, she threw up and felt extremely ill.
“For the whole week, I had the worst migraines in the world. I kept feeling sick and I thought I was going to die. The irony of dying from a smart drug than an actual narcotic was unreal.”
Jenny drank as much water as she could and slept for the entire day - compromising her exam revision.
The student believed that without medical advice, no prescribed medicine should be taken considering the effect it had on her. She said she probably failed her exams and thought she should not have caved in just because others were taking it.
"I wasn't being dramatic. I have a high tolerance for medicines but this was something else."
Whether or not smart drugs, or Nootropics, should be consumed is still a grey area. Despite this, it is being talked about on various social media platforms by professionals and students.
Could this potentially mean we have a new generation of vitamins and supplements?
Drop us a comment below or tweet us at @EverySideOfLife with #Smartdrugs.
“For the whole week, I had the worst migraines in the world. I kept feeling sick and I thought I was going to die. The irony of dying from a smart drug than an actual narcotic was unreal.”
Jenny drank as much water as she could and slept for the entire day - compromising her exam revision.
The student believed that without medical advice, no prescribed medicine should be taken considering the effect it had on her. She said she probably failed her exams and thought she should not have caved in just because others were taking it.
"I wasn't being dramatic. I have a high tolerance for medicines but this was something else."
Whether or not smart drugs, or Nootropics, should be consumed is still a grey area. Despite this, it is being talked about on various social media platforms by professionals and students.
Could this potentially mean we have a new generation of vitamins and supplements?
Drop us a comment below or tweet us at @EverySideOfLife with #Smartdrugs.
*All names have been replaced to protect anonymity of the interviewees.