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Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

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Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#631

Post by hx2a »

nradov wrote: post #179
hx2a wrote: post #117

In the finance industry Adderall is very popular. I know someone who works as an in-house psychiatrist at a top-tier investment bank. Most of the employees that go to see her are looking for an Adderall prescription. I've known a few people who use cocaine. It is useful for the people who want to stay up late at the clubs and be able to work the next day.

Wow the notion of having your own private Dr. Feelgood on staff just seems bizarre. It's a whole different world I guess.

No, she doesn't. Happily her job is structured in such a way that she has full control over her job and decisions. The employees can get her fired for not giving them what they want.

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#632

Post by hx2a »

mbid wrote: post #175
hx2a wrote: post #117

In the finance industry Adderall is very popular. I know someone who works as an in-house psychiatrist at a top-tier investment bank. Most of the employees that go to see her are looking for an Adderall prescription. I've known a few people who use cocaine. It is useful for the people who want to stay up late at the clubs and be able to work the next day.

And do they get the adderall prescription there? What does your friend's employer think about this?

She doesn't give them the prescription. Sorry I should have mentioned that in my previous reply.

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#633

Post by hx2a »

Eilene wrote: post #176
hx2a wrote: post #117

In the finance industry Adderall is very popular. I know someone who works as an in-house psychiatrist at a top-tier investment bank. Most of the employees that go to see her are looking for an Adderall prescription. I've known a few people who use cocaine. It is useful for the people who want to stay up late at the clubs and be able to work the next day.

Do you use Adderall too?

Nope! Not for me.

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#634

Post by robg »

Eilene wrote: post #593
robg wrote: post #532

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"When you say "brain health" do you mean actual neurological changes taking place in the brain, or underlying mental health issues like depression and anxiety?" I've been looking closely at this distinction between mind and brain for over a decade and I have to say the evidence is very thin as to nature vs. nurture wrt anxiety and depression. Moreover, ask any professed expert about the differences between chronic st…

I will reach out, thank you. This is very helpful. Your last paragraph describes Peter accurately. At some point, all the years of chronic stress, too little sleep, too many stimulants (even before IV drug abuse) changed him somehow. I'm not a doctor, but I knew him for almost 30 years and over the course of a decade or so something profound changed.

That's the truly crazy thing to me - over a decade if someone was gaining a lot of weight or had a heart attack or drinking more and more maybe the people who care would try to stage an intervention. But if it's lack of sleep and/or too much stress, it's shrugged off as they are so hard working and productive and dedicated. It's a culture of Type A people and the rewards that go with that professionally. And now we're raising generations to act the same way. I'm of the belief that the obesity epidemic is a symptom not a cause. Food is naturally rewarding and de-stressing.

Back to telomerase (Blackburn won the Nobel) and the glymphatic system (Nedergaard will win the Nobel). In short, chronic stress causes significant damage across the body and down to the cellular level. Sleep is the body's way to recover and the glymphatic system appears to be the cleaning process in the brain, down to the cellular level. When you have much more damage and insufficient recovery, something really has changed, like a car driven too fast, too hard, without oil changes for a decade.

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#635

Post by muzani »

Eilene wrote: post #64
neverminder wrote: post #43

The way I see it there's mainly 2 types of drugs in this case: recreational and performance enhancing. For instance both cocaine and modafinil are drugs, but vastly different in terms of safety, addiction and last but not least - social stigma. If you want more information regarding performance enhancing substances, more specifically mind performance (very relevant in tech sector), I suggest you visit /r/nootropics.

Yes, realized that in the last 20 minutes, when I went to look up modafinil. Do you think that the use of performance related drugs and stimulants are far more prevalent in the under 40 set? Or under 30? than among those working in tech that are over 4o or 50?

I've picked up nootropics at 30, mostly trying to catch up with younger, more energetic developers. Part of it was also because these resources weren't around when I was in college. Part of it is because those of us who have been working several years in a soul draining job often look for other ways to enjoy life and take some risk.

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#636

Post by fjabre »

btrettel wrote: post #389
woah wrote: post #84

I would be careful of overestimating the amount of stimulant use based on comments and emails here. People who use a lot of stimulants tend to love talking about themselves and often have a belief that anyone successful must be taking stimulants secretly. It plays into the motivation of most stimulant users which is that the stimulants have given them a special cheat code in life. I worked in construction in my young…

I'll second this. I don't even drink coffee. I've encountered people who seem absolutely incredulous that I take no stimulants at all. "How do you stay awake?" is something I'm asked. My go-to response now is "I don't. If I'm tired, I get more sleep." Some of these people probably think that I'm lying. There are a lot of people who think that sleeping at work is a bad idea, but I think it's a lot better than guzzling…

Very strange indeed that people are incredulous that you don't take stims. I love stims, especially modafinil. I don't think your methods are better than mine or that you would be more productive with stims. It's personal preference so let's withhold judgment. You have your method and they have theirs. You can stop the debate right there.

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#637

Post by [deleted] »

Blahah wrote: post #186
Eilene wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how can you tell if someone is up? Just from years of using stimulants yourself or are there obvious, telltale signs? I missed a boatload of them with Peter.

Dilated pupils. Tense jaw. Muscles around the eyes are slightly more tense (small wrinkles temporarily disappear for example). People react faster and speak more coherently (or if they took too much, incoherently but very fast). Dry mouth (very slight lisping or tongue sticking when they talk). Straighter back, clenched fists, grasping or fidgeting hands that they don't normally have. A general appearance of alertnes…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#638

Post by elialbert »

sizzle wrote: post #629
copperx wrote: post #620

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was four years ago, and I was back to my baseline self in about two months. A month ago I was diagnosed with severe apnea, and since starting treatment I feel like a different person. I wonder whether the apnea was worsened by modafinil four years ago, and that was the reason for my constant wearing down. Maybe I'll do an experiment just to see, but I don't need stimulants anymore to be productive, not even coff…

Isn't modafinil/stims a treatment for apnea?

I believe you're thinking of narcolepsy

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#639

Post by [deleted] »

obv_throwaway_ wrote: post #630
nvarsj wrote: post #622

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you mind sharing (in general) how you got such a large base? That seems high for hedge fund standards - I would expect a large bonus, instead.

It is pretty high, I agree. I started 5 years ago on a 110k salary with no bonus. Over those 5 years I've worked my ass off, done some questionable things and never once asked for a raise. I work in a department on my own, in a small office. In the past 3 years I have done an average of 80hrs a week, occasionally getting in 12-14 hours on the odd weekend, other than my bonus I don't have any other benefits. I don't q…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I'm writing a book about white-collar drug use, including tech sector

#640

Post by linuxps2 »

Eilene wrote: post #365
linuxps2 wrote: post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Addy / Vyvanse seem to be the doctor's choice (as well as college kids') so it is generally just more available and seen as safer than straight street speed. Similarly, coke is also much cheaper / readily available in the US compared to Europe. I don't / have never opened up to coworkers about drug use/abuse but among my high earning friends, I'd say its a small group that uses it frequently and a large group that us…

Why weed? It would seem that would make you want to hang out all day and snack, or just sleep or watch television?

We just love weed? For me putting a little tincture in my coffee in the morning is the perfect combo. The weed takes the slight edge off my massive mug of coffee so I get the energy but not the cracked out feeling that lots of caffeine can give you. Plus, answering emails is boring as fuck, I'd rather have a little buzz when I do it. Also, some of my best code was written while high at midnight the night before a deadline.
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