Study drugs make healthy people worse at problem-solving, not better
Users try harder, but are less competent
FOR MORE than six months Americans have been struggling to get their hands on medications like dextroamphetamine (better known as Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin). Officially, these stimulant drugs are used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Hard-working, but incompetent”
More from Science & technology
How the Gulf’s rulers want to harness the power of science
A stronger R&D base, they hope, will transform their countries’ economies. Will their plan work?
Cancer vaccines are showing promise at last
Trials are under way against skin, brain and lung tumours
New firefighting tech is being trialled in Sardinia’s ancient forests
It could sniff out blazes long before they spread out of control
Can Jeff Bezos match Elon Musk in space?
After 25 years, Blue Origin finally heads to orbit, and hopes to become a contender in the private space race
Why some doctors are reassessing hypnosis
There is growing evidence that it can help with pain, depression and more
Academic writing is getting harder to read—the humanities most of all
We analyse two centuries of scholarly work