Nootropics are a diverse group of substances that improve thinking, learning, and memory, especially in a class setting where these functions might not be at their best. According to the National Library of Medicine, nootropics work by improving the brain’s supply of glucose and oxygen, have antihypoxic effects, and protect brain tissue from neurotoxicity. These properties of nootropics improve blood flow to the brain and increase their metabolic activity. Knowing that nootropics boost the brain’s functions, should we allow people to take these medications for things such as tests?

Now, I need to specify that there are nootropics that some people use in life, which I will not consider in this topic due to their use for some. For example, a popular nootropic drug is adderall, which is commonly used for people who have ADHD. Ritalin is a common nootropic substance that is also used for ADHD. As I said above, I do not consider these nootropics when used for things such as ADHD. ADHD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a disorder where the attention span of a person is heavily decreased and the hyperactivity and impulsiveness are increased. HAD comes with a lot of struggles and challenges. However, nootropics such as adderall can help with that. Overall, I believe that if a person is struggling because of a disorder and not because someone wants an extra “boost”, then nootropics should be allowed as they will help them.

In my opinion, nootropics should not be used by people who do not need them for many reasons. For one, I believe that the use of these drugs when not needed for things such as test taking is cheating, and it is not just me who thinks this. Many institutions will punish students if it is found out that they are taking nootropics without a prescription, as it is a violation of academic integrity. A lot of schools have academic honor codes or integrity policies that define cheating as the “unauthorized use of information, materials, devices, sources, or practices in completing academic activities.” Taking unprescribed nootropics would fall under using unauthorized material. Not only is it cheating and not fair to others, but there can be serious side effects from using these drugs. Side effects can include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, paranoia, and an elevated risk of addiction. Taking nootropics can be very dangerous if not monitored by medical professionals. Additionally, adderall, which is the nootropic with the most unauthorized use, is a Schedule II controlled substance under federal law, the same classification as cocaine and methamphetamine, due to its high potential for abuse and addiction. This means that taking the medicine when it is not prescribed to you is illegal and could get you in legal trouble.

Overall, the use of nootropics when it is unauthorized and have not been prescribed for medical reasons should not be allowed or normalized for things such as test-taking. Over 1 million students in the United States take adderall for tests. There needs to be stricter rules against this so that it is prevented in the future.