抄録
Objective: Smart drugs are widely used for nonmedical reasons in Western countries. Given that smart drugs are often used for years, long-term effectiveness and safety are essential, but particularly difficult and costly to determine. The use of smart drugs seems to be common among individuals in cognitively demanding environments, such as schools and universities, although the actual consumption of smart drugs has not been elucidated in Japan. To monitor the prevalence of smart drugs among undergraduates, we conducted an awareness survey in Kyushu University and Healthcare Management College.
Results: We found that 98% of students had never used smart drugs. When asked “Would you like to use smart drugs ?” 55% of the students answered “No,” 10% answered “Yes,” and 33% answered “I couldn’t say.” No associations were observed between these answers and sex, drinking, smoking, and pressure on academic performance. It is suggested that users of soft enhancers, such as caffeine-containing products for cognitive enhancement, are more likely to use smart drugs. We found that half of the students had used energy drinks for neuroenhancement prior to an exam.
Conclusion: The present study indicated a low prevalence of smart drug use compared with that in other countries, whereas the use of caffeine-containing products for cognitive enhancement appeared to be similar to Western usage. Furthermore, approximately 30% of the students agreed with the use and effectiveness of smart drugs. Further studies of smart drugs among students should be conducted to prevent the abuse.
