THE INAPPROPRIATE USE OF METHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE BY STUDENTS IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Methylphenidate hydrochloride, popularly known as Ritalin®, is one Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant. One of the purposes of this medication is to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. However, currently, its use extends the indiscriminate consumption of this drug by people seeking to improve performance in competitions and similar situations. Thus, this work investigates the risks and extent of the non-medical use of methylphenidate among undergraduate students who do not possess any disorder to enhance their cognitive functions and diagnose the primary motivations for such practice. In this article, a literature review of the narrative type was carried out, and data collection took place in the bibliographic databases PubMed, SciELO, and Academic Google. In the inclusion process, scientific articles in electronic or printed support were considered, with the full text in Portuguese or English and information available on the electronic addresses of agencies and official bodies. The data analysis described in this paper demonstrates that consumption among Brazilian university students is compatible with similar international studies, indicating that use is within 1.5% to 31% of those involved in the surveys. As an example, in a study carried out at Anhanguera School of Brasilia with 400 students, 5.8% said they had already used methylphenidate at some point. In addition, another study with medical students at the Federal University of Bahia showed that 8.6 % of respondents stated that they had already used methylphenidate at some point in their school life. Therefore, considering that the indiscriminate use of methylphenidate, as well as other psychostimulants, can cause immediate or long-term side effects, it is necessary to have greater control over its prescription and dispensing, as well as special attention by the authorities responsible for greater awareness of students about the risks inherent in its indiscriminate use.