Physicians in Canada should consider refusing to prescribe
cognitive enhancement medications — also used to treat attention
deficit disorder (ADD) — to healthy patients, states an analysis
article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Lack of
evidence for benefits and possibility of harm, limited health
care resources and professional integrity of physicians are
reasons why this use is not acceptable. Prescription stimulants
such as methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine are often used by
people for "cognitive enhancement" to increase focus,
concentration and memory. Because these drugs are available in
Canada by prescription only, people must request them from their
doctors. "Physicians are important stakeholders in this debate,
given the risks and regulations of prescription drugs and the
potential for requests from patients for cognitive enhancers,"
writes Dr. Eric Racine, Institut de recherches cliniques de
Montréal and Université de Montréal, with coauthors. People take
prescription stimulants t