British University Students Use 'Gongginori' to Study Better...Health Side Effects Raise Concerns

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] It has been reported that students at major universities in the UK widely use cognitive enhancers, known as 'study drugs,' to prepare for exams or meet assignment deadlines.

According to a report by The Times on the 27th (local time), current students and alumni of Oxford University, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Nottingham, and the London School of Economics said that such drugs can be easily obtained for about 2 pounds each (approximately 3,190 KRW).

The Universities UK (UUK) announced plans to conduct a survey early next year on the use of cognitive enhancers and other drugs within universities and intends to establish new guidelines by the end of next year.

The most well-known drugs referred to as 'study drugs' or 'smart drugs' include modafinil, a treatment for sleep disorders, and ritalin, a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

It is not clearly known how many students use these drugs, and no universities in the UK explicitly prohibit the use of cognitive enhancers.

However, students said these drugs are commonly used and can be easily obtained online or through people who have been prescribed them by doctors for therapeutic purposes.

Online pharmacies abroad are supposed to verify prescriptions with doctors when selling these drugs, but the newspaper pointed out that this regulation is not being properly enforced.

Concerns have also been raised about the potential health impacts of these drugs. Professor David Taylor of King's College London warned, "Students are taking drugs that can affect the brain without any medical supervision," adding, "Modafinil can rarely cause psychosis and mania, and stopping its use can lead to depression."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.