Study drugs ‘sweep’ Warwick

The study drugs Modafinil and Noopept are “sweeping universities”, according to an article in the Sun which featured testimony from Warwick students.

Many students at Warwick have turned to study drugs this exam season, despite them being banned this May under the government’s Psychoactive Substances Act.

Noopept and Modafinil are nootropics, drugs which boost concentration and alertness. Modafinil is a commonly prescribed treatment for narcoleptics, usually in pill form. Noopept was developed in Russia, and comes as a powder that users can snort or swallow in a capsule.

A survey by the Boar last year showed 11% of respondents had taken study drugs, and a further 56% would consider taking them.

The Sun reporters interviewed one student from Leamington who sold Noopept and Modafinil to fellow undergrads at Warwick. The Boar managed to contact one third-year student featured in the article.

This is not a significant issue at Warwick – we do not believe that it is any more prevalent than at most other UK universities.

Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Policy at the University

They substantiated the article’s claims that study drugs, particularly Modafinil, are widespread at universities. The student told the Boar: “Modafinil is relatively easy to come across at Warwick. All it takes is a few people to buy the pills off the internet, then they’ll hold enough to sort their friends out.

“I’ve never personally purchased Modafinil or Noopept online but I’ve been able to buy them off a few different people at any one time. I’d say that I know more people who have tried Modafinil than who haven’t tried it. But of these, only a fraction use the drug regularly.”

They also claimed the Sun article overstated the danger of study drugs: “From my own experience, Modafinil and Noopept are both perfectly safe. Modafinil produces some unpleasant side effects, especially at high doses, such as headaches, insomnia and irritability, but I wouldn’t say it was dangerous.

“It’s a stimulant like caffeine, just more powerful and longer lasting. I turned to Noopept because I was growing tired of the side effects of Modafinil, and I’ve found there to be no such effects with the newer drug.”

Ultimately I don’t feel like that baseline academic potential is transformed in any way by taking the drugs.

Warwick student

A second-year student, who has taken both drugs, commented: “From what I’ve researched, the dangers are minimal, although there have been no long-term studies. But I don’t intend to use them long-term, only now and then in exam season.”

Study drugs, though not illegal until recently, have raised ethical questions at universities. Many believe they put users at an unfair advantage.

But the second-year student disagreed with this, saying: “I don’t think it’s unfair on other students. People take Red Bull and coffee to get them through exams and essays. This is just another tool at our disposal. The job market is more precarious for young people than ever, so obviously I’m going to do what I can to get ahead.”

The student interviewed by the Sun agreed with this. They said: “All [study drugs] essentially do is allow users to keep alert and concentrated for longer periods of time than they might otherwise be able to manage due to tiredness and distraction. Ultimately I don’t feel like that baseline academic potential is transformed in any way by taking the drugs.”

The same student claimed that their views were misrepresented by the Sun.

It has brought the wrong kind of awareness to nootropics, and wasted an opportunity to provide readers with accurate information on the drugs their kids are taking to cope with exam pressures, in order to fabricate drama and shock value.

Warwick student

They stated: “They assured me that my identity would be protected, but ended up giving my hometown and course title in their description of me – two details I never agreed they could share. I expected nothing less from the Sun, which like all media outlets clearly possesses a political agenda which skews and distorts its ‘reportage’.

“It has brought the wrong kind of awareness to nootropics, and wasted an opportunity to provide readers with accurate information on the drugs their kids are taking to cope with exam pressures, in order to fabricate drama and shock value.”

The university, however, has denied that study drugs are a significant issue.

Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Policy at the university, said: “This is not a significant issue at Warwick – we do not believe that it is any more prevalent than at most other UK universities.”

When asked how the university intends to respond to study drug use, he said: “It is an issue that the University Support Services and Student Union would deal with on an individual basis with each student.”