Brain-boosting drugs spark concern

22 May 2008 12:09am

A call to monitor the use of brain-boosting drugs has come from a panel of experts.

The newly emerging drugs, known as cognition enhancers, affect the brain by improving short term memory or speeding up thought processes.

A report from the Academy of Medical Sciences drew parallels between the drugs and physical performance boosters used in sport.

The report called for a full assessment of the effects of cognition enhancers, and on-going monitoring of their non-medical use.

Sir Gabriel Horn, who chaired the working group which made the recommendations, said: "We see similarities in the future use of cognition enhancers with the current use of performance enhancing drugs in sport. It is likely that the use of cognition enhancers will increase, so an assessment of the social and economic impacts now will allow Government and others to consider 'localised' regulation around use in schools, universities and the workplace."

The report said an increasing number and variety of psychoactive drugs would emerge over the next few decades.

Some would allow new treatments for addiction and mental health, but others could increase the burden of drug abuse, said the experts.

The report highlighted the importance of a health-based approach to reducing the harm caused by misusing drugs.

Sir Gabriel said: "The Government's drugs strategy is based on a principle of harm reduction.

"Much more could be done to improve our understanding of the harms associated with different illegal and legal drugs and our knowledge of the prevalence, duration and type of drug use in the population. Only with this information can we assess the harms of different drugs, develop the most appropriate drug classification system and ultimately target our health, police and social resources most effectively."

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