Varsity Medical Ethics Debate 2015: should nootropic drugs be available under prescription on the NHS?

Abstract

The 2015 Varsity Medical Ethics debate convened upon the motion: “This house believes nootropic drugs should be available under prescription”. This annual debate between students from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, now in its seventh year, provided the starting point for arguments on the subject. The present article brings together and extends many of the arguments put forward during the debate. We explore the current usage of nootropic drugs, their safety and whether it would be beneficial to individuals and society as a whole for them to be available under prescription. The Varsity Medical Debate was first held in 2008 with the aim of allowing students to engage in discussion about ethics and policy within healthcare. The event is held annually and it is hoped that this will allow future leaders to voice a perspective on the arguments behind topics that will feature heavily in future healthcare and science policy. This year the Oxford University Medical Society at the Oxford Union hosted the debate.

The Role of Different Behavioral and Psychosocial Factors in the Context of Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancers’ Misuse

“…PCE prevalence estimates in different EU Member States range from 0.8% to 16%, depending on different factors, such as, for example, country, field of work, university, type, and purpose of the used drug [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In a 2008 study by Nature Magazine, 20% of 1400 participants responded that they already used a PCE as a cognitive enhancer [ 18 ].…”

Behavioral and Psychosocial Context of Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancers` Misuse

“…According to Stein (2012), so-called "smart pills" will be used to promote learning and clarify thinking, "happy pills" to increase mood and improve temperament, and "pep pills" to increase energy and maximize motivation [8]. PCE prevalence estimates in different EU Member States range from 0.8-16%, depending on different factors, for example, country, eld of work, university, type and purpose of the used drug [9,10,11,12,13]. In a 2008 study of Nature Magazine, 20% of 1,400 participants responded that they already used PCE as a cognitive enhancer [14].…”