Peformance-Enhancing Drugs...and The Scientists Who Use Them

[SilentScope001]

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080409/full/452674a.html

http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Nature_Scientists_Are_Using_Performance_Enhan cing_Drugs_16230.html

On one hand, scientists' brain power may be artifically inflated, which would obivously unfair and disadvantage far poorer scientists when competing for honors and grant money.

On the other hand, these scientists would desire to take the drugs, the side-effects don't include 'roid rage...and I want a cure for cancer, for crying out loud.

EDIT: A New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/weekinreview/09carey.html?ex=1362805200&en=4c9d7fc024597717&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink) Article about Brain Enhancmenet Drugs as well.

[Ray Jones]

Brain enhancement and drugs are mutual exclusive terms, IMO.

[Jvstice]

Not that I advocate using things on oneself which we don't know all the long term health affects for using when you don't have a health problem you're treating, but it is their bodies. If they are going to be productive members of society, and don't harm anyone else, nor impose on anyone else's rights, why does it matter?

Of course, that being said... if you do it to your kid, you should be shot.... through the head.... by a jury of your peers.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Plasmids, anyone?

[SilentScope001]

I once was for, but now am against. Some of the drugs that are used to enhance the performance of scientists are Controlled Substances and therefore highly addictive. Not only would they have to break the law just to get the prescription drugs (and if you hate the law, don't break it, change it)...but the addiction could destroy their lives and waste countless dollars in the process. You credit the drug, not the hands that write your awesome paper, so you just use the drug over and over, and therefore don't have any sort of pride within what you are doing 'naturally'. Eh.