Why is this unethical?

Question

I have posted a few times now about not having been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD but wanting to get my hands on some Adderall to aid in focusing... getting the most bang for my buck... in dental school. I am starting in August and this is an endpoint in my education from my standpoint now. I want to specialize. It's VERY competitive. I want to learn all I can to better serve my patients. I don't want to use this drug recreationally. If Adderall can help me to focus and concentrate, thereby helping me to learn the most information in a given amount of time, to eventually better help those that come to me for treatment why in the world would people consider this unethical? Can anyone explain this to me?

Online is funny like that. One can hide their identity... kinda cool eh?

Answer 1

Dangerous yes
unethical I doubt it.

Answer 2

Laura, you got some really good answers here. Hope you'll pay attention. Don't just go at this with the attitude that, whatever answer you get that sounds like what you wanted to hear in the first place is the best answer. Listen. If you see something here that you don't like, read it again and try to like it better.

I was one of the first kids on Ritlin, in the 60's.Yes, I am old. I was part of one of the first major studies on why in the world giving a squirrelly kid "speed" will help. But----most ADD/ADHD drugs that actually work for those with ADD do not do the same thing for others.

There is nothing immoral about wanting to use a drug. It is what it is and morality has little to do with it---the laws are so screwed up that one must not confuse legality with morality.

I find it laughable that Congress is worried about steroids in baseball, and not paying attention to, well, don't get me started...

Here's the thing---and this is just a fact. Once you start using a substance to achieve better performance, the odds are stacked against you. Most outcomes are unsatisfactory, sometimes in a major, spectacular way. Few outcomes are good.

Now---here's the LAST thing you wanted to hear. The very best aid to studying, health, etc is EXERCISE. Sorry. If exercise were a pill, it would be the most widely prescribed pill in the world. The two best exercises are swimming and sex, but there are others---bicycling, dancing, walking, gardening, you name it. There is no shortage of advice on that. But you need to break a good sweat, push yourself, and do it in a way that does not hurt your bones/joints, and you WILL be able to study better, sleep better, and live better.

You might even learn to like it a little.

I personally like rigorous dog-walking and bicycling. I do not own a car. And I am WAY ADD, and in pretty good shape.

Good-luck

Answer 3

It might have to do with using a drug to do what other's do without a drug. If we could all use a drug to be better in school then every one would be on a level playing field.

My son has ADD/ADHD and so do I. However, I never told my son. There was no reason to "brand" him or give him an excuse to do poorly in school. And, I've very against drugs in young people, including college level.

What I did was learn all I could about how to help him learn in ways he could learn. best. The ADHD really isn't key to anyone except teachers and parents that want their kids to sit still and do homework. However, when we're adults, it doesn't really affect our lives too much, unless we let it. This is simply stated however, I know it may affect other's more than most.

My son learned how to study that helped him most. He used index cards all the way through college. Carried them everywhere.

Using Adderall is a crutch. You can learn the information and learn to focus and concentrate if you train yourself to. If it means enough to you - you can do it without drugs. Because of my son's study habits he maintained a 3.5-4.0 all through college (and through is frat days). He helped me so that I could go back to college as well...and maintain a 4.0 all the way through.

You can do it without drugs. Really, you can. Use index cards and repetative learning techniques. If you forget what you just looked at, out of lapse of attention, go back. Do it again and again and again. The challenge will be rewarding. You don't need a drug as a crutch...you just need to learn to learn in a different style.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I'm not sure I would say unethical, but I would say unsafe. You shouldn't use a drug that you don't need for medical reasons. Drug use like this often starts out as a help, and then turns into something you can't do without. I suggest if you are having trouble focusing then you should learn meditation techniques to help with your problem.

Answer 5

Do you find steroid usage ethical? Also, how certain are you that adderol will be the amazing mind drug you seem to think it will be?

If a doctor wont prescribe it to you, there is probably a reason. I would let it go and find other techniques for focusing, such as meditation, or choosing the most suitable location for personal study.

Answer 6

You have no business being a dentist or going into any medical field if you do not understand why taking unprescribed drugs in unethical. How is this different from taking pills to help you stay up to study or taking pills to increase your sense of pleasure? How about pills to make you feel good even when you are tired? Amphetamines and various pills like Oxycontin would keep you going, right? You are on a slippery slope, my friend. I would not want you to be my dentist.

Answer 7

It is unethical simply because you obviously have no regard for regulations and laws. You would be a very dangereous person because if you think it is OK to break one law just because you want to then breaking others will be OK too. So, yes, you are not an ethical person.

Answer 8

You really want to go messing with your brain chemistry just for an edge in school? Please remember these drugs are made to balance where there is an imbalance. By using them when there is balance, you may well cause an unexpect and permanent imbalance. Its your brain, you only get one.

By the by, if you do happen to get some adderal, and decide not to use it, could you send it my way? I was diagnosed ADD, but don't have health insurance. (ok, so that would be unethical, not to mention illegal, but wtf).

Answer 9

I know someone who used Adderall.....

You do not know me, nor, I you....but, unethical? No. Reckless? Yes. Dangerous? Yes. HABIT FORMING? YES. Very. And what begins as an added edge, will rapidly become a gnawing hunger. Resulting in LESS FOCUS. And LESS ability to complete tasks. Don't do it. You will wish you hadn't.

Answer 10

if you use a drug that alters your mood and makes you feel more focused..then why do you bother to ask us?

you are just joking as any real drug user would not call attention to themselves...

i feel sorry for your patients if you ever became a dentist..
what do you call someone who drops out of medical school?
a dentist!..this was on Jerry Seinfeld..so don't blame me...

Answer 11

i'm not sure about unethical, but possibly illegal? i personally wouldn't want to be going to a dentist that was under the influence of anything they didn't medically need. you will be a dentist someday, and possibly addicted.