Ethics of standarized test and medication.

[Maurepas]

Law & Order: SVU

Most accurate source of Information since 2001,

[Barringtonia]

Totally irrelevant post here to some extent but at university, for my final exam, which I'd studied the least if simply due to the overwhelming amount of exams I had to take for my course, which was a dual-subject course...

I spent the night prior to the exam, which was at 9am, on speed to keep me awake and focused on studying to combat the general fatigue I was experiencing.

That morning, we all looked at our papers and not one of the subjects made any sense to us, none were in our syllabus and I remember all looking at each other slightly aghast until someone noticed that it was the previous year's exam papers. Someone had screwed up.

The exam was stopped and we were told that it would restart at 12pm.

Sweet jesus, I remember my head dropping as I considered that 3-hour delay and whether I'd make it through another 6 hours, given each exam lasted 3 hours themselves.

Luckily, we were graded very generously due to the delay, probably a full grade and a half up. I still wonder if any of my essays made that much sense.

[Ryadn]

I watched an episode of Law & Order: SVU where a kid at a school for geniuses took a similar drug to be able to cram for a test. After she hadn't slept for 6 days, because the drug also acts like amphetamines, she slammed her roommates head in and dumped her body in the river.

Granted Adderall has not had a reaction like that, is just like abusing any drug. It is prescribed for a purpose to certain people who have a genuine need for the drug. If you need something to 'focus' go get some ginkgo biloba. Its less harmful in the long run.

If you take too much tylenol you go into liver failure. What's your point?

[Dark Side Messiahs]

I watched an episode of Law & Order: SVU where a kid at a school for geniuses took a similar drug to be able to cram for a test. After she hadn't slept for 6 days, because the drug also acts like amphetamines, she slammed her roommates head in and dumped her body in the river.

Granted Adderall has not had a reaction like that, is just like abusing any drug. It is prescribed for a purpose to certain people who have a genuine need for the drug. If you need something to 'focus' go get some ginkgo biloba. Its less harmful in the long run.

If you take too much tylenol you go into liver failure. What's your point?

If you need something to 'focus' go get some ginkgo biloba. Its less harmful in the long run.

[Ryadn]

I watched an episode of Law & Order: SVU where a kid at a school for geniuses took a similar drug to be able to cram for a test. After she hadn't slept for 6 days, because the drug also acts like amphetamines, she slammed her roommates head in and dumped her body in the river.

Granted Adderall has not had a reaction like that, is just like abusing any drug. It is prescribed for a purpose to certain people who have a genuine need for the drug. If you need something to 'focus' go get some ginkgo biloba. Its less harmful in the long run.

If you take too much tylenol you go into liver failure. What's your point?

If you need something to 'focus' go get some ginkgo biloba. Its less harmful in the long run.

From Wikipedia (emphasis mine):

Ginkgo has many alleged nootropic properties, and is mainly used as memory[25] and concentration enhancer, and anti-vertigo agent. However, studies differ about its efficacy. The largest and longest independent clinical trial to assess ginkgo biloba’s ability to prevent memory loss has found that the supplement does not prevent or delay dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.[26] Some controversy has arisen over the conclusions drawn by some studies that were allegedly funded by a firm which marketed Ginkgo.[27]

According to some studies, in a few cases, Ginkgo can significantly improve attention in healthy individuals.[28][29] Allegedly, the effect is almost immediate and reaches its peak in 2.5 hours after the intake.[30]

And the major study finding that gingko is effective for memory came from, unsurprisingly, a company peddling the stuff.

Ginkgo should also not be used by people who are taking certain types of antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors[41][42]) or by pregnant women, without first consulting a doctor.

Ginkgo side effects and cautions include: possible increased risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and restlessness. [42][43] If any side effects are experienced, consumption should be stopped immediately.

Hmm. Heart palpitations, restlessness and dizziness? Sounds a lot like the side-effects of stimulant use.

[Hamilay]

I watched an episode of Law & Order: SVU where a kid at a school for geniuses took a similar drug to be able to cram for a test. After she hadn't slept for 6 days, because the drug also acts like amphetamines, she slammed her roommates head in and dumped her body in the river.

Granted Adderall has not had a reaction like that, is just like abusing any drug. It is prescribed for a purpose to certain people who have a genuine need for the drug. If you need something to 'focus' go get some ginkgo biloba. Its less harmful in the long run.

This is your problem.

disclaimer: I (sometimes) enjoy Law and Order as well.

[Greed and Death]

Most schools don't like to see applicants take the LSAT more than one time without a valid excuse. If an applicant is only taking the test once I don't see how you would be able to measure any benefit from drug usage...

Pre test.

I think most test takers take about 10 pretest.

[Allanea]

If the concentration drug was available to everyone or cheap enough so that any student could afford it then I don't see much of a problem, but more likely it would be expensive, thus allowing better off kids to get better scores on tests simply for having wealthy parents.

How is it different from having wealthy parents pay for tutors?

[Greed and Death]

Here is soemthing to think about in regards to this conversation.

Say there is a kid with dreams of becoming a professional athlete.
A doctor determines he has a muscle development issue and prescribes anabolic steroids for the rest of his life.
Said grows up and proceeds to break several records in his sport.