Many Scientists Using Performance Enhancing Drugs

docinthemachine is one of several readers to send word of a new poll published in Nature showing unprecedented levels of cognitive performance-enhancing drug abuse by top academic scientists. The poll, conducted among subscribers to Nature, surveyed 1,400 scientists from 60 nations (70% from the US). 20% reported using performance-enhancing drugs. Among the drug-using population, 62% used Ritalin, 44% used Provigil, and 15% used beta-blockers like Inderal. Frequency of use was evenly divided among those who used drugs daily, weekly, monthly, and once a year. All such use without a prescription is illegal.

Comments

Re:No, it's not drug abuse.

[HiThere]

What percentage of the Darwin Award winners were high on drugs?

People are perfectly capable of doing stupid things on their own, without external stimuli. The only stupid things that people on pot do frequently are 1) drive under the influence (see alcohol) and 2) eat excessively.

The driving *is* a problem, but legalization might reduce it. Might not, too. Hard to predict. Anyway, reckless driving is already a crime, and you don't need any special laws. I suppose that DUI is reasonable...but I've seen lots of drivers that weren't drunk that *I* thought should have been pulled over, and possibly had their license lifted. Probably what's needed is actual enforcement of the laws against reckless driving.