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Amphetamine use in America's workforce

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Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#11

Post by eridius »

6stringmerc wrote: post #3

So glad that as I was growing up, my ADHD tendencies were seen more as just an individual issue I'd have to learn to control myself rather than a physiological condition in need of medication. Granted, in my street-wise years I've found stimulants and I get along really, really well, but there's a nagging feeling that I simply don't want to be on amphetamines daily. It might turn my writing into delusional drivel lik…

People with ADHD react to amphetamines differently than people without it (at the correct dosages at least; I've never read anything about what happens to people with ADHD that take more than the correct dosage).

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#12

Post by eridius »

nibs wrote: post #10
_98fj wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you assume it has ever been any different? Rate of serotonine production for example is coded in two genes. Don't forget that it's not necessarily an evolutionary disadvantage to be slightly depressed or anxious, because you tend to avoid risks. Same with low motivation and an easily distracted mind which can help to conserve energy by finding ways of avoiding tasks.

I guess my use of finding suggests I assume it is different. I am not sure it is. I think a lot of people in time past probably felt the exact same way. It is more that these conditions become a bottleneck to "quality of life" in modern times, now that survival is relatively trivial for most people.

I think it's that, and also the fact that the type of work most of us do these days is pretty different than the type of work we did in times past, and the type of work we do now, especially knowledge work, seems to be more affected by ADHD than menial work.

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#13

Post by semi-extrinsic »

Vraxx wrote: post #9

I think this is a little bit sensationalized at the very least. This excerpt in particular caught me off guard. "Abuse by young professionals is distressingly common—Wall Street traders, software engineers, dentists, nurses, and lawyers, all cracked out of their minds trying to keep up with the competition." Yes, I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and yes I have an Adderall prescription. But I'd hardly call myself…

I believe it's well-established that Adderall has a profoundly different effect on people like yourself who actually have ADHD, than on those who don't have ADHD. So when TFA talks about "abuse", I understand it as referring to people who do not have ADHD but are obtaining these medications illegitimately. It is unfortunate that the article mixes this up with the (presumably legitimate) increase in ADHD diagnoses.

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#14

Post by Havoc »

Vraxx wrote: post #9

I think this is a little bit sensationalized at the very least. This excerpt in particular caught me off guard. "Abuse by young professionals is distressingly common—Wall Street traders, software engineers, dentists, nurses, and lawyers, all cracked out of their minds trying to keep up with the competition." Yes, I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and yes I have an Adderall prescription. But I'd hardly call myself…

>bit sensationalized...This excerpt..."Abuse by young professionals"

I don't think so. I'm in one of those environments where long hours are common and it definitely does happen. There are also people using a mix of uppers & downers (need the uppers to be wide awake but then can't sleep when at home hence downers). Hell I'm doing a vaguely similar thing (just with coffee and melatonin). Add a bit of anti-depressants and I don't think "cracked out of their minds" is that far fetched.

I would say its definitely a small minority though (in my workplace)...places like New York & London...not so sure.

>But I'd hardly call myself cracked out on drugs.

Well I'm sure your case is perfectly legitimate, but you've got to admit that self-assessment in this type of situation is rather unreliable.

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#15

Post by ams6110 »

nibs wrote: post #10
_98fj wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you assume it has ever been any different? Rate of serotonine production for example is coded in two genes. Don't forget that it's not necessarily an evolutionary disadvantage to be slightly depressed or anxious, because you tend to avoid risks. Same with low motivation and an easily distracted mind which can help to conserve energy by finding ways of avoiding tasks.

I guess my use of finding suggests I assume it is different. I am not sure it is. I think a lot of people in time past probably felt the exact same way. It is more that these conditions become a bottleneck to "quality of life" in modern times, now that survival is relatively trivial for most people.

Social media is probably a bit of a factor as well, with the message that everyone else is having fantastic lives in contrast to our own "hanging on in quiet desperation"

Even pre-internet, we had a rise of TV shows like "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" which gave viewers a daily reminder of how mediocre their lives were in comparison.

The notion that everyone's life is (or should be) full of constant excitement, joy, and amazing experiences is false. It is very one-sided. But if that's all you see of everyone else, your own troubles (which are mostly the same troubles everyone has) start to seem abnormal, something that needs to be treated. So you go see a doctor and end up medicating the problem away.

And though she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill / She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper / And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#16

Post by inDigiNeous »

I can't be the only one thinking that this can not be good in the long run. I still remember my friend who had a prescription for ADHD -medication, and they cut off this medication, and he couldn't do nothing but sleep for 3 weeks almost.

What kind of state does prolonged use of amphetamines put the user ? Constantly being pushed to focus on one task, what kind of thought patterns does that create in the long run ?

I feel the biggest issue with this is that it's considered okay, like is coffee use, and still coffee and amphetamines are really strong stimulants, but it's so commonplace that we don't even think about it anymore.

Are we being just taught by the culture around us to work, work, work .. when we could be taking it more easy, having our thinking be more open, and not so closed and focused on the tasks ahead of us?

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#17

Post by nibs »

eridius wrote: post #12
nibs wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess my use of finding suggests I assume it is different. I am not sure it is. I think a lot of people in time past probably felt the exact same way. It is more that these conditions become a bottleneck to "quality of life" in modern times, now that survival is relatively trivial for most people.

I think it's that, and also the fact that the type of work most of us do these days is pretty different than the type of work we did in times past, and the type of work we do now, especially knowledge work, seems to be more affected by ADHD than menial work.

Great point. I have found that doing simple routine tasks to be pretty rewarding dopamine wise. The way crossing things off a to-do list feels like accomplishment.

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#18

Post by [deleted] »

Vraxx wrote: post #9

I think this is a little bit sensationalized at the very least. This excerpt in particular caught me off guard. "Abuse by young professionals is distressingly common—Wall Street traders, software engineers, dentists, nurses, and lawyers, all cracked out of their minds trying to keep up with the competition." Yes, I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and yes I have an Adderall prescription. But I'd hardly call myself…

[deleted]

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#19

Post by yarou »

This article is pretty poorly written. First off, methylphenidate is a phenethylamine - not an amphetamine. Its chemical structure doesn't resemble amphetamine. Secondly, Adderall is not simply dextroamphetamine, it is a racemic mixture of both amphetamine salts.

There have been studies showing that amphetamine leads to definitive cognitive improvement in the general population. Why restrict it? Human beings have a special relationship with psychostimulants.

Re: Amphetamine use in America's workforce

#20

Post by huac »

Havoc wrote: post #14
Vraxx wrote: post #9

I think this is a little bit sensationalized at the very least. This excerpt in particular caught me off guard. "Abuse by young professionals is distressingly common—Wall Street traders, software engineers, dentists, nurses, and lawyers, all cracked out of their minds trying to keep up with the competition." Yes, I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and yes I have an Adderall prescription. But I'd hardly call myself…

>bit sensationalized...This excerpt..."Abuse by young professionals" I don't think so. I'm in one of those environments where long hours are common and it definitely does happen. There are also people using a mix of uppers & downers (need the uppers to be wide awake but then can't sleep when at home hence downers). Hell I'm doing a vaguely similar thing (just with coffee and melatonin). Add a bit of anti-depressants…

OT: wouldn't recommend melatonin for constant use. more useful in setting a fixed bedtime; taking it too often may cause issues falling asleep.
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