Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 84 posts

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#41

Post by mej10 »

whybroke wrote: post #34

Honestly though what percentage difference does this make in productivity and is that percentage really going to be the difference between a startup's success and failure? Being fired or not? Being happy or not? If the thing makes you happy then that's one thing. If you think getting 10% or 20% more work done is going to move you from mediocre to exceptional or is going to make you happy, I beg to differ.

(assuming) 10-20%, compounded over as long as you can sustain it. It can make a huge difference.

Also, they make most people feel fantastic and like they can conquer the world. Is it really any question why people would find that appealing?

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#42

Post by mej10 »

zxcvcxz wrote: post #7

Off topic, but I was diagnosed with ADHD about 10 years ago, been taking methylphenidate ER ever since. Throughout the years I have had over ten different doctors at the same location and I informed each doctor that I was a marijuana user. Recently my latest doctor decided to drug test me, before asking any questions about my usage or even looking at my file he stated he would no longer prescribe me my medicine becau…

Get a new doctor.

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#43

Post by fitshipit »

xamuel wrote: post #10
amelius wrote: post #3

And these practices are in a way unfair against the rest of us workers! > Most users who were interviewed said they got pills by feigning symptoms of A.D.H.D., a disorder marked by severe impulsivity and inattention, to physicians who casually write prescriptions without proper evaluations. And thus these practices disturb statistics about the true prevalence of ADHD.

>And these practices are in a way unfair against the rest of us workers! This raises interesting philosophical questions about work in general. If work is inherently valuable, isn't anything that enhances it a good thing (assume lack of side effects for simplicity)? Is it "unfair" if a doctor/scientist/programmer uses a product to be more productive? Very few of us are formally competitive athletes, and special rules…

Erdös started taking benzedrine in 1971, long after he had become one of the most prolific mathematicians of all time with ~40 years of work behind him. I suspect he was productive in spite of the speed, as someone that brilliant with that many years of learning in their head would still be incredibly brilliant impaired.

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#44

Post by whybroke »

mej10 wrote: post #41
whybroke wrote: post #34

Honestly though what percentage difference does this make in productivity and is that percentage really going to be the difference between a startup's success and failure? Being fired or not? Being happy or not? If the thing makes you happy then that's one thing. If you think getting 10% or 20% more work done is going to move you from mediocre to exceptional or is going to make you happy, I beg to differ.

(assuming) 10-20%, compounded over as long as you can sustain it. It can make a huge difference. Also, they make most people feel fantastic and like they can conquer the world. Is it really any question why people would find that appealing?

Does labor compound? My understanding is that say a freelance carpenter who works 20% harder for 40 years ends up about 20% richer not 1.2 ^ 40 = 1469 times richer

>Also, they make most people feel fantastic and like they can conquer the world. Is it really any question why people would find that appealing?

Perhaps, but what is the delta increase in zeal for their project. Presumably they were tolerably enthusiastic before taking the pill. Is the difference significant?

Now if it makes the user feel better then that alone might be a good reason for taking it. But let's not suppose that a bad project or feckless employee is going to become the next google or Einstein because of a pill.

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#45

Post by jdefr89 »

zxcvcxz wrote: post #7

Off topic, but I was diagnosed with ADHD about 10 years ago, been taking methylphenidate ER ever since. Throughout the years I have had over ten different doctors at the same location and I informed each doctor that I was a marijuana user. Recently my latest doctor decided to drug test me, before asking any questions about my usage or even looking at my file he stated he would no longer prescribe me my medicine becau…

I think what he is getting at is marijuana may be the reason you cannot focus well. I don't think a study needs to be done to show using marijuana can have a negative impact on your short term memory and attention span.

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#46

Post by jdefr89 »

mej10 wrote: post #42
zxcvcxz wrote: post #7

Off topic, but I was diagnosed with ADHD about 10 years ago, been taking methylphenidate ER ever since. Throughout the years I have had over ten different doctors at the same location and I informed each doctor that I was a marijuana user. Recently my latest doctor decided to drug test me, before asking any questions about my usage or even looking at my file he stated he would no longer prescribe me my medicine becau…

Get a new doctor.

Great advice. "I am going to doctor shop until I find someone who gives me the pills I want..."

No..

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#47

Post by jdefr89 »

whybroke wrote: post #44
mej10 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(assuming) 10-20%, compounded over as long as you can sustain it. It can make a huge difference. Also, they make most people feel fantastic and like they can conquer the world. Is it really any question why people would find that appealing?

Does labor compound? My understanding is that say a freelance carpenter who works 20% harder for 40 years ends up about 20% richer not 1.2 ^ 40 = 1469 times richer >Also, they make most people feel fantastic and like they can conquer the world. Is it really any question why people would find that appealing? Perhaps, but what is the delta increase in zeal for their project. Presumably they were tolerably enthusiastic…

Crystal meth and heroin make a user feel better.. Should we hand that out as well?

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#48

Post by jdefr89 »

ryan90 wrote: post #35

This really shouldn't be a shocker. I was diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school and have been on and off medication ever since. A large number of friends in the professional world use these stimulants regularly. I think that these drugs are very useful for short term sprints where one needs to focus, or do rather mundane tasks. But it's incredibly easy to become dependent on them. At one point, I could even begin…

I have also been on psycho-stimulants for a while. People simply don't realize the effect they are really after is the buzzed high like euphoria. Furthermore, those effects don't last and you need to keep cranking up the dose to achieve your desired mental state.

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#49

Post by mej10 »

whybroke wrote: post #44
mej10 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(assuming) 10-20%, compounded over as long as you can sustain it. It can make a huge difference. Also, they make most people feel fantastic and like they can conquer the world. Is it really any question why people would find that appealing?

Does labor compound? My understanding is that say a freelance carpenter who works 20% harder for 40 years ends up about 20% richer not 1.2 ^ 40 = 1469 times richer >Also, they make most people feel fantastic and like they can conquer the world. Is it really any question why people would find that appealing? Perhaps, but what is the delta increase in zeal for their project. Presumably they were tolerably enthusiastic…

There are three areas I am aware of where labor can absolutely compound (in terms of output): business, software, and learning.

> Perhaps, but what is the delta increase in zeal for their project.

From my personal experience, it can increase dramatically. This is across the board. Whether it is something I am actually interested in doing or just drudgery.

> But let's not suppose that a bad project or feckless employee is going to become the next google or Einstein because of a pill.

Of course not, but it can really help. People can also become psychologically/physically dependent on them as well -- they aren't without risks.

Re: Workers Seeking Productivity in a Pill Are Abusing A.D.H.D. Drugs

#50

Post by zxcvcxz »

jdefr89 wrote: post #45
zxcvcxz wrote: post #7

Off topic, but I was diagnosed with ADHD about 10 years ago, been taking methylphenidate ER ever since. Throughout the years I have had over ten different doctors at the same location and I informed each doctor that I was a marijuana user. Recently my latest doctor decided to drug test me, before asking any questions about my usage or even looking at my file he stated he would no longer prescribe me my medicine becau…

I think what he is getting at is marijuana may be the reason you cannot focus well. I don't think a study needs to be done to show using marijuana can have a negative impact on your short term memory and attention span.

Marijuana helps me concentrate though. It slows down my thoughts enough to let me process them. I would have gladly accepted this answer from him, but he refused to talk about it.

I live in a state where marijuana is highly illegal and having a prescription back up actually allows me to smoke less marijuana.

I typically only smoke at the end of the day when the methylphenidate is worn off and if a I take another I can't sleep.

I don't think that there is any real evidence that marijuana lessens the effects of methylphenidate (certainly no studies) or has any interaction with it at all.

The main thing I'm upset about is that there was no discussion allowed. He has no idea of what my usage habits are or why I use.

Post reply on HN