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Drugs and The Future

This document discusses the potential future uses and implications of psychotropic drugs that can enhance normal human qualities and abilities beyond treatment of disorders. It notes that while drugs have effectively treated diseases, new drugs may enhance qualities like memory, empathy and productivity in healthy people. However, this raises ethical issues about equal access, risks of overuse, and loss of satisfaction from natural abilities. Overall the document argues we must carefully consider risks and benefits to individuals and society to develop responsible policies for any new enhancing drugs.

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63 views2 pages

Drugs and The Future

This document discusses the potential future uses and implications of psychotropic drugs that can enhance normal human qualities and abilities beyond treatment of disorders. It notes that while drugs have effectively treated diseases, new drugs may enhance qualities like memory, empathy and productivity in healthy people. However, this raises ethical issues about equal access, risks of overuse, and loss of satisfaction from natural abilities. Overall the document argues we must carefully consider risks and benefits to individuals and society to develop responsible policies for any new enhancing drugs.

Uploaded by

Ruben_Monroy_Claudio
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Foreword Drugs and the Future

Charles R. Schuster, PhD


Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences Wayne State University School of Medicine The use of psychotropic drugs to modify sensation, perception, mood, and behaviour has been ubiquitous in human societies since time immemorial. Alcohol, caffeine, coca, nicotine, opium, peyote, marijuana, mescaline and many other substances have been used in a variety of cultures in the world for religious ceremonies, healing by shamans, or as a brief escape from the rigours of a difcult existence. The scientic development of safe and effective psychotropic drugs for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders is, however, a relatively recent phenomenon. Only in the past 50 years have we developed highly specic and effective drugs for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Progress is being made in our understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders including substance abuse and dependence. Coincident with these signicant therapeutic gains, we are learning more about the fundamental neural mechanisms underlying cognition, motor function, perception, motivation, and mood states. Unquestionably, we will see continued progress in our understanding of the etiology of neurological and psychiatric disease states and, hopefully, in the development of ways to prevent and more effectively treat these problems. In so doing we will inexorably discover new means to alter our mood, perceptions and cognition. We have in the past generally discounted the possibility that psychotropic agents might be useful for improving normal performance. Extensive research has demonstrated that certain medications can enhance cognitive and motor task performance that has been degraded by fatigue or boredom. The United Sates Department of Defense, for example, sanctions the use of such drugs for pilots who must remain on duty for extended periods of time. Now, however, we are faced with the likelihood of discovering new psychotropic agents that will augment the optimal performance of non-disordered individuals, allowing them to work not only longer, but also more efciently and productively. It is also likely that we will develop through rational design or serendipity psychotropic agents that can enhance such human qualities as empathy, sympathy, spirituality, and compassion. Psychotropic drugs have been used by many to enhance creativity, with mixed results. Undoubtedly, as we continue mainstream development of psychotherapeutic agents, new psychedelic agents will also be discovered. This will force us to give serious reconsideration to the manner in which we view the use of currently available psychedelic agents that in most countries are banned as illegal drugs. Could these compounds and ones yet to be discovered lead to more creative thinking in the arts and sciences? Could they increase spirituality and feelings of compassion for the less fortunate? If they do, how will or should these agents be sanctioned and regulated?

ix

FOREWORD

What will all of this mean to future generations? Great promise, but the potential for unintended adverse consequences as well. I believe that the following ethical and procedural issues must be considered in sanctioning the development and distribution of psychotropic agents that enhance normal performance and other desirable human qualities. First, I am concerned about access to such psychotropic agents. Will they be prescribed by physicians? How will physicians decide for whom they will prescribe such psychotropic agents? How will they be paid for? If only individuals who can afford to pay for these agents can access them, are we further separating individuals by socioeconomic level? Are we in danger of creating a modern-day equivalent to a behavioural eugenics movement or a caste system? Further, will ambitious young workers escalate their use of such agents in an attempt to better compete with their peers? The current furore over the use of performance-enhancing anabolic steroids by athletes in the United States portends some of the problems we will have with steroids for the mind. Finally, what will happen to ones sense of satisfaction for a job well done if the successful performance is at least partly attributable to a pill? If increased compassion or empathy can be achieved by ingesting a psychotropic agent, will this alter our veneration for these human attributes? I do not mean to diminish the possible benets that might accrue from new psychotropic agents for enhancing normal performance and other desirable human qualities. It seems conceivable that, if an

entire population received a psychotropic agent that boosts memory function, we would not equalise individual differences but rather increase the population mean for memory function. This could be true for all of the human mental functions that psychotropic agents might enhance. This is, of course, a utopian view, but conceivable. Unfortunately, the reality is that such agents would be disproportionately available for the wealthier nations populations potentially further widening the socioeconomic gap between nations of the world. As is true with all medications, fashioning rational policies requires that we balance the risks and benets of these agents for the individual and society in general. We must also seriously consider alternatives to psychotropic agents for enhancing normal performance. Much can be achieved using educational and other behavioral approaches to enhance our mental performances. Clearly, we can also do a better job of nurturing the human qualities of empathy, compassion and spirituality by means other than psychotropic agents, probably at lower cost and with reduced likelihood of adverse side effects. Nevertheless, we should not prejudge the potential benets of psychotropic agents for purposes other than treatment of disease. Whether or not we oppose this application of psychotropic drugs based on ethical principles, they will be developed. Once developed, it will be difcult to contain their distribution and use. It is far better that we begin our public discourse now on policies to productively use these agents rather than wait until they are here.

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