3 ms·

I don't know if there is a good reason and I don't know if they are safe for long term use. What I do know is that using them for non-prescribed uses is illegal

I don't know if there is a good reason and I don't know if they are safe for long term use. What I do know is that using them for non-prescribed uses is illegal, as are painkillers, HGH, and other drugs. If you guys don't like that, then lobby the FDA to do studies for general use and make them legal for general use. That's the point of my posts.

rms 19y ago
They are legal for general use, as long as they are prescribed by a doctor. It is the "off-label" loophole: once a medication is approved for a specific use doctors can prescribe it for whatever they want.
- sdurkin 19y ago
  Is this true with regard to all drugs, and for all reasons? For example, could a physician decide to prescribe narcotics for anxiety? Or an athlete steroids to increase performance? I will also ask again whether these drugs should be illegal. From my point of view, it seems logical that anybody should be able to use whatever drugs they want, so long as that drug use does not affect others. So, for example, heroin would remain illegal due to the strong negative externality imposed on a community by heroin users. Mental performance enhancing drugs don't seem to have any negative externality associated with their use. In fact, the argument could be made that by furthering scientific discovery, they actually have a net positive effect. I find no compelling evidence in favor of the prohibition of these drugs.
  - jmzachary 19y ago
    Here is some evidence against using these drugs for recreational/non-ADHD use: http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/ritalin.asp http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/ritalin.asp http://www.biopsychiatry.com/methylphenidate/ritalin.html http://www.biopsychiatry.com/methylphenidate/ritalin.html http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4870.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4870.php http://amphetamines.com/methylphenidate/brain.html http://amphetamines.com/methylphenidate/brain.html
    - rms 19y ago
      Yes, there are some very real negative effects of hard stimulants. These studies are all for sustained use. What about someone who wants to take a ritalin or amphetamine every couple of weeks to have a super productive day?
      - mrtron 19y ago
        Hard stimulants have the same negative effects on people who doctors prescribe them to too. So, a developing child a doctor decides has ADD will experience these, and probably worse if it impacts development.
    - sdurkin 19y ago
      But what business is it of mine whether someone wants to destroy themselves with drugs? As long as that person is only harming himself, and not others, why should the government get involved?
  - rms 19y ago
    >For example, could a physician decide to prescribe narcotics for anxiety? Or an athlete steroids to increase performance? I think it comes down to the doctor's judgement, and them wanting to stay in the good graces of the DEA. The DEA has really come down on doctors that prescribe opiates lately, so I doubt very many doctors would prescribe unnecessary opiates for anxiety when a benzodiazepam or SSRI would be better served. For steroids, they aren't really illegal, right? They're just scheduled and banned in athletic competition. I think most athletes that use steroids are probably prescribed them by a doctor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label_use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label_use (though it looks like it needs some work)

rms 19y ago

They are legal for general use, as long as they are prescribed by a doctor. It is the "off-label" loophole: once a medication is approved for a specific use doctors can prescribe it for whatever they want.

sdurkin 19y ago
Is this true with regard to all drugs, and for all reasons? For example, could a physician decide to prescribe narcotics for anxiety? Or an athlete steroids to increase performance? I will also ask again whether these drugs should be illegal. From my point of view, it seems logical that anybody should be able to use whatever drugs they want, so long as that drug use does not affect others. So, for example, heroin would remain illegal due to the strong negative externality imposed on a community by heroin users. Mental performance enhancing drugs don't seem to have any negative externality associated with their use. In fact, the argument could be made that by furthering scientific discovery, they actually have a net positive effect. I find no compelling evidence in favor of the prohibition of these drugs.
- jmzachary 19y ago
  Here is some evidence against using these drugs for recreational/non-ADHD use: http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/ritalin.asp http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/ritalin.asp http://www.biopsychiatry.com/methylphenidate/ritalin.html http://www.biopsychiatry.com/methylphenidate/ritalin.html http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4870.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4870.php http://amphetamines.com/methylphenidate/brain.html http://amphetamines.com/methylphenidate/brain.html
  - rms 19y ago
    Yes, there are some very real negative effects of hard stimulants. These studies are all for sustained use. What about someone who wants to take a ritalin or amphetamine every couple of weeks to have a super productive day?
    - mrtron 19y ago
      Hard stimulants have the same negative effects on people who doctors prescribe them to too. So, a developing child a doctor decides has ADD will experience these, and probably worse if it impacts development.
  - sdurkin 19y ago
    But what business is it of mine whether someone wants to destroy themselves with drugs? As long as that person is only harming himself, and not others, why should the government get involved?
- rms 19y ago
  >For example, could a physician decide to prescribe narcotics for anxiety? Or an athlete steroids to increase performance? I think it comes down to the doctor's judgement, and them wanting to stay in the good graces of the DEA. The DEA has really come down on doctors that prescribe opiates lately, so I doubt very many doctors would prescribe unnecessary opiates for anxiety when a benzodiazepam or SSRI would be better served. For steroids, they aren't really illegal, right? They're just scheduled and banned in athletic competition. I think most athletes that use steroids are probably prescribed them by a doctor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label_use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label_use (though it looks like it needs some work)