Prevalence and correlates of stimulant and depressant pharmacological cognitive enhancement among Norwegian students

Abstract

Aims: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with stimulant and depressant pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE) drug use among Norwegian students. Design: In the first wave (T1), 28,553 students were invited to participate, of whom 9370 (32.8%) responded and completed the survey (mean age ¼ 24.9 years, 63.5% female). One year later (T2) those who had responded to some items at T1 were invited to participate in a follow-up survey, where 4783 (47.2%) responded and completed the survey (mean age ¼ 24.8 years, 64.8% female). Results: Lifetime prevalence of stimulant PCE drug use was 2.1% at T1 and 3.6% at T2. The lifetime prevalence of depressant PCE drug use was 1.5% at T1 and 3.3% at T2. Stimulant PCE drug use at T2 was predicted by low scores on agreeableness and anxiety, high scores on intellect/ openness, and alcohol use, and stimulant and depressant PCE drug use at T1; while depressant PCE

Super-Men and Wonder-Women: The Relationship between the Acceptance of Trans- and Posthumanistic Self-Enhancement, Personality, and Values

“…Similar to some other studies, we found no significant relationships between AoE, extraversion, and extraversion facets (Benotsch et al, 2013;Laakasuo et al, 2018;Middendorff et al, 2012;Sattler & Schunck, 2016). Notably, Myrseth et al (2018) found a negative association between the acceptance of pharmacological enhancement and extraversion, arguing that less extraverted individuals are more likely to enhance themselves to alleviate their characteristic feelings of anxiety and social discomfort.…”

“…This explanation is corroborated by another study, which showed that anxious, neurotic individuals preferred anxiety-reducing anti-depressants over performance-enhancing stimulants in exam situations. Hence, neurotic individuals seem to strive for better performance not by enhancing cognitive skills but by regulating emotional distress (Myrseth et al, 2018). However, the current study examined enhancement use in general and without special regards to stress-triggering situations.…”

“…Similarly, the finding that AoE was not correlated with openness and its facets is contrary to our assumption of a positive relationship. Several studies found a positive association between the acceptance of pharmacological enhancement and openness, arguing that open individuals engage more likely in pharmacological enhancement because they are more open towards experimenting with enhancing drugs (Benotsch et al, 2013;Myrseth et al, 2018). However, other studies also reported no significant associations between openness and acceptance of pharmacological enhancement (Middendorff et al, 2012;Sattler & Schunck, 2016) and mind upload (Laakasuo et al, 2018).…”

Self-Reported Illicit Drug Use Among Norwegian University and College Students. Associations With Age, Gender, and Geography

“…Stimulants such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) and amphetamine are among the most commonly used drugs in this respect ( 17 ). Among Norwegian higher education students, lifetime use of stimulants as a study drug was reported by 2–4% ( 18 ). Although a temporary increase in memory may be experienced, the use of these drugs is according to a literature review associated with detrimental negative health effects, while not improving learning and school grades ( 17 ).…”

Opioids, opioids, opioids

“…As expected, internalisation of use is more commonly associated with own use. Another Norwegian study pays attention to a later stage of youth, exploring the prevalence and correlates of cognitive enhancement use of stimulants and depressants among students (Myrseth, Pallesen, Torsheim, & Erevik, 2018). The use of pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE) can, according to the authors, be explained by a combination of wanting to improve academic achievement and a general inclination towards substance use.…”