Use of Neuroenhancement Drugs: Prevalence, Frequency and Use Expectations in Switzerland

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Stéphane Deline³  Stéphanie Baggio¹  Joseph Studer³  Alexandra A. N’Goran³  Marc Dupuis⁴  Yves Henchoz³  Meichun Mohler-Kuo²  Jean-Bernard Daeppen³ 

[1] Institute for Social Sciences, University of Lausanne, Geopolis Building, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland; E-Mail:;Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, Zurich CH-8001, Switzerland; E-Mail:;Alcohol Treatment Centre, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Av. Beaumont 21 Bis, Pavillon 2, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland; E-Mails:;Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Geopolis Building, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland; E-Mail:

关键词: college students;    expectations of use;    neuroenhancement;    prevalence;    smart drugs;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph110303032

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Objective: The present study investigates the use expectations, prevalence and frequency of neuroenhancement drug (ND) use among the Swiss male population, separating college students from others. Methods: Young Swiss men were invited to participate in the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors. A total of 5,967 participants responded to questions on six types of NDs (wakefulness medication, antidepressants, Alzheimer’s disease medication, Parkinson’s disease medication, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication, and beta-blockers). The frequency of use depending on five expectations (to enhance wakefulness, attention, memory, concentration and stress reduction) was analyzed for a twelve-month period. Results: (1) About 3% of the sample indicated use of at least one ND; (2) ADHD medication was the most prevalent; (3) The type of ND preferred differed depending on academic status (4). Quantitatively, over the year, college student users used ND much less frequently than other users. Conclusions: Prevalence of ND use is low in Switzerland relative to other countries such as the United States. Patterns of ND use differed depending on academic status, suggesting that while college student ND users tended to do so rarely (probably to enhance cognitive abilities for exams), non-college male users used other NDs more frequently (probably to “get high”).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.