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Do Med Students Use Drugs to Boost Their Performance?
Pin-Chieh Chiang -- As medical students, we’re expected to spend most of our time in class and the rest of our time studying for class. That’s all fine unless you are like any normal person and you really can’t just continually absorb information for hours on end. For me, it’s really easy to just zone lectures out. It’s also easy to lose my concentration when studying from the textbooks -- it doesn’t help that textbooks can be simply boring and always remind me of the dreaded verbal section of the MCATs.
So there is a focus issue that many medical students need to address. The question is always "what is the quick fix?" The rumors are out there, that perfectly normal people take performance enhancement drugs without their doctors’ approval in order to perform better in classes. I’ve definitely participated in this line of gossip at my school. "Have you noticed that so-and-so’s eyes are always red?" "What about that one person that just doesn’t sleep the week before exams?"
I’m finding these rumors harder and harder to believe as I learn to deal with my own lack of attention span and as I get to know my fellow classmates better. I like to believe that because we are medical students, we are more focused than ever on remaining healthy. Sure, doing well in class is important, but not important enough to disrupt your own body.
At my school, the emphasis on osteopathic philosophies shines a different light on this issue. If my head is feeling clouded, I can easily ask any classmate to perform a suboccipital release on me (one of my favorite treatments). Besides having osteopathic manipulation as an extra option, inherent in the teachings of osteopathy is also the pursuit of a more well-balanced and natural life. If my classmates and I are going to become osteopathic doctors, it only makes sense that we start making an example out of our own lives.
Of course, that doesn’t mean we haven’t overdosed ourselves with caffeine. That happened first year as soon as I found out my school’s café sold coffee for only $1 a cup, 50 cents during exams, and sometimes even free. But then I learned that I suffer from withdrawal from coffee so I had to put a stop to that.
Instead now I focus on the basics of exercise and diet, and once in a while I drink tea. Due to a professor's recommendation I’ve taken up B-complex vitamins. They balance your neurotransmitters, keep you happy in the winter, and you pee out any excess because it’s all water-soluble. Personally I don’t notice a big difference except I find everything’s funny during exam week.
I’m sure there are plenty of different techniques used by different people. On the other hand, sometimes I get this feeling like I wouldn’t be surprised if by the time we graduate half the class is on Prozac and the other half are on anti-psychotics. What do you do to keep your focus on during medical school?
September 1, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
In my country we smoke marijuana in between sessions so we are better able to concentrate when time comes to study. You Americans and your speed.
Posted by: Trondheim | Sep 5, 2006 2:59:13 PM
this is old news. But 4 all of u that r new 2 this old stuff; i wouldnt reccommend it...sometime your body will have 2 re-coup, and that's when u will crash....for days.
Posted by: virginia humann | Sep 5, 2006 3:25:41 PM
I doodle or play tetris when I can't focus anymore. Crayolas are a must have as a second year! I'd love to try a suboccipital release though!
Posted by: Modupe | Sep 5, 2006 3:37:25 PM
I know quite a few med student that do cocaine to stay up all night and study. Personally, I wouldn't want anyone taking care of me on that stuff.
Posted by: H | Sep 5, 2006 3:51:04 PM
I spend some time at my Keyboard when I can't focus, playing music, or I go out for a bike ride. Exercise and music always help relax my mind and help me regain focus. Coffee? What's that? I've never drunk the stuff. Plenty of diet pepsi, though, but just as often, I have no soda and stick to milk and water.
Posted by: Belinda | Sep 5, 2006 4:17:50 PM
I drink coffee & tea...if that doesn't work..i drink some more....in between studying I workout & run...back to studying ...step 1 in a month!
Posted by: BYC | Sep 5, 2006 5:01:40 PM
I would never think pot would be a drug for help in concentration no matter the rationale. I have taken prescription medication (adderol, methylphenidate) when i need that whole day just to sit and study, and I have definatly known students to doctor shop in order to obtain a script for it as well.
Posted by: coffman | Sep 5, 2006 5:23:06 PM
this topic is great, and the range of responses is saddening. First, if I find a physician, pharmacist or nurse abusing controlled drugs ("pot", "speed", valium, etc.) I don't work with them. Second, "doctor-shopping" and prescription forgery is a serious issue. If you're able to legitimize your own abuse, what's your attitude towards patients going to be? Are you going to contribute to a patients' drug abuse? Third, the diet coke/pepsi/coffee route is cliche; I thought med students were supposed to think like scientists. If you're going to dose yourself with caffeine, why use an inaccurate and contaminated (phosphoric acid, etc) delivery mechanism??? Go buy some No-Doz if caffeine works for you [and yes, Virginia is right about that crash!]. I think I'll go get a massage.
Posted by: srigita | Sep 5, 2006 5:57:31 PM
I take frequent breaks and watch Borat on youtube. Wawaweewa! Centrum chewables are very nice and taste orangey. Power naps are also pretty effective. A couple isolated REMs really revives ya.
Posted by: R | Sep 5, 2006 6:21:00 PM
if you think for one sec that many students DONT use substances to stay awake or focus, then you are sadly mistaken... students use things ranging from pot to coke to energy drinks... its for studying purposes only.. just hope they dont get addicted in the long run....
Posted by: JBlock | Sep 5, 2006 6:49:01 PM
SORRY TOO SAY BUT WITH OUT PHARMACAUTAICALS I WOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED MY VET TECH EXAM
NOW IM A VET TECH FOR HORSES ONLY SO IT WORKED FOR ME SORRY ALL LATER I HAVE TOO GO BACK TO THE BARN
SINCERILY
BRODY 5150
Posted by: CAT IN THE HAT | Sep 5, 2006 8:15:28 PM
Most of the people I know at my medical school are pretty healthy and I know several who have decided to move away from Coffee even, looking for healthier and better ways to stay awake and maintain concentration. I know a lot of people who like to exercise or take a swim when they are tired. I personally take a break and power nap or surf the web when I am too tired and/or cannot maintain concentration. The suboccipital release sounds like a great method though. I would love to try it!
Posted by: RoC | Sep 5, 2006 9:01:51 PM
I don't even drink caffeine; I just suffer naturally. Should med schools test students for performance enhancers (e.g. ritalin, provigil, cocaine, etc.) due to the unfair advantage they give over all of us who are just working our asses off? If you are taking drugs to get through med school, you have no ethics and no business in medicine.
Posted by: joyu | Sep 5, 2006 9:20:42 PM
Hold up, wait a minute! Some of us are taking Adderall legally and tired of the bad rap it is getting because people abuse it. I get so tired of the many requests I get to "share" my medicine, especially during finals week. (Which I never do because not only is it unethical to share but it is also too expensive to give away and I don't want everyone bugging me for it when I really need it!) I also see students "jacked up" on stimulants, trying to study, and I don't get why they would do that to themselves. I am just thankful that there is a medicine that finally gives me the clarity to be normal.
Posted by: vintagebetty | Sep 5, 2006 11:29:30 PM
why can't people just be normal. there is something fishy about it. well first of all most students have to go to work besides school plus they have boyfriends and girlfriends that hold each other back from succedding. my point is there is a lot of stress out there especially that lately schools have to push students a lot on some majors such sciences.well different types of drugs do work on different people differentlly. just try em all until you find the right one! sounds good ha !!well just don't drawn urself Ha Ha. im serious
Posted by: omar snoussi | Sep 5, 2006 11:31:37 PM
sometimes the stress gets so bad for me that i just break down and have good ol CRY...after a while i feel better and i just get right back to studying
Posted by: jackie | Sep 5, 2006 11:47:09 PM
Maybe the REAL issue here is that the program of study drives students to use these drugs. There is not enough time in the day to learn everything and complete all the tasks a medical student is expected to complete. "You Americans" have the greatest doctors and healthcare in the world. There is not a person in this world that is a perfect angel and maybe the real issue here involves reform of medical education so that we don't have to sacrafice sleep to succeed. Residents that have to work 24 and 36 hours straight have no choice but to rely on some type of stimulant. THERE IS AN ISSUE HERE MUCH DEEPER THAN THE MEDICAL STUDENTS THAT ARE BEING BLAMED.
Posted by: chris | Sep 6, 2006 9:13:38 AM
what country do you come from Trondheim? You smoke the weed in between lectures for medical school? Is this accepted practice? wow that is new to most american med students. But humans have a long history of using herbs/drugs to change our perceptions/abilities.willow bark helps with pain, Mary J helps retain :) Using drugs to be able to concentrate and retain impossible amounts of data sounds like good idea. But is Pot really the best thing for it? And does adderall really help people that are not ADD pr ADHD really concentrate? or does it act as a stimulant to them?
Posted by: jhon smith | Sep 6, 2006 9:15:28 AM
for the person who made the comment about most american med students not using substances (pot) to study... why dont u leave the library for a few minutes and go see what the real deal is... and as far as those who complain about people having an unfair advantage by using things like adderall, stop whining.. u also spend ure entire time in the library while joe enjoys life, and then when necessary (finals week per se), uses some "help" to get the job done... as long as people dont get ADDICTED to it, so be it...
Posted by: JBlock | Sep 6, 2006 9:45:55 AM
Hey in my country the med students drink red bull and it works its graeat but i always prefer a good sleep
Posted by: JuanG | Sep 6, 2006 11:24:48 AM
AM from UAE . as for me i think that the best way to achieve success is to have a good sleep at least 3-6 hours a day even if it was exams time cause without a good sleep your concentration will be decreasing and there will be no point of studying anymore.. u wont be getting any benifit of what u reading and u will start to forget whatever u studied before..
Never get addicted to coffee or even tea.. cause u are doing nothing but tiring your nerves more .
A RedBUll will give u energy for a while .. thats true (u know why ) but after its effect is gone ..u have to stand the consequences which are very bad.
Good luck for u all and organize your time
Posted by: Haider Majeed | Sep 6, 2006 11:38:05 AM
Ritalin Works great for me, it stimulates cognitive aspects rather than motor as cafeine does just dont abuse it because you can make a psychotic episode.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 6, 2006 11:39:03 AM
To help pull the all-nighters, to help stay up past midnight, to only have 4 hours of sleep at times, I stick with 2 things: Tea with sugar and Red Bull. It does wonders! As anything good, there is always a bad. Unfortunately, during the day I get very tired so when I come home, I take a good 30 minute...even a 60 minute powernap to recharge. I also go to work out as that is a very positive activity to help "recharge" our spirits.
There are students out here in our English program in Poland who do weed among other things but quite frankily, I think that is just stupid. An alcoholic does not become an alcoholic overnight. I just think something that is such a strong CNS stimulant with a high addiction possibility; I wouldn't even mess with it.
Anybody care to share their 3yrd year stories? I jsut started this past week and it is stressful!
Posted by: Nitun | Sep 6, 2006 11:40:27 AM
Here's what I don't get. I smoke plenty of pot but it kills both my concentration and my short term memory.. I smoke it to relax and for fun. Why would anyone suggest that it actually helps you concentrate? THC is not a stimulant.
Posted by: tdot | Sep 6, 2006 11:53:12 AM
Hi everyone, in my country some students use drugs to stay alert in the week of exam , but I think all drugs have side effects , so to stay healthy and alert we have to take enough sleep and study hard , I'm sure it will work.
Posted by: Shayma | Sep 6, 2006 11:59:14 AM
