Smart drugs are as a dangerous model of psychoactive substance use

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Abstract

When examining the factors of the use of psychoactive substances (PAS) by young people, recreational consumption has traditionally been studied. The second well-known causal model to examine psychoactive substances was its interpretation as a way of coping with stress for persons with a limited number of adaptation strategies. But data from foreign studies show the development of a new practice of consumption of stimulants, including permitted drugs, in order to improve mental productivity, performance, and improve cognitive function. The pace of life, loads, complex tasks that have to be solved in adolescence are increasing. In conjunction with the models of social behavior influencing the modern young persons, with the cult of success, achievements, perfectionist attitudes, this creates the motivation for self-improvement. And unless ways of improving the body have repeatedly become the topic of scientific researches and publications, the desire to improve the one's own brain function stays in the shadows, it has not yet attracted attention of Russian specialists and needs to be studied. The article analyzes the data of empirical studies that indicate an increase in the consumption of nootropics and other stimulants by students to achieve academic success.

General Information

Keywords: psychoactive substances, motivation for the consumption of psychoactive substances, drugs for cognitive enhancement, nootropics, stimulants

Journal rubric: Medical Psychology

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2021100205

Funding. This work was supported by Moscow State University of Psychology and Education in the framework of the scientific project "Use of psychoactive substances by students: in pursuit of academic success”.

For citation: Rychkova O.V. Smart drugs are as a dangerous model of psychoactive substance use [Elektronnyi resurs]. Sovremennaia zarubezhnaia psikhologiia = Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 2021. Vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 44–54. DOI: 10.17759/jmfp.2021100205. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Olga V. Rychkova, Doctor of Psychology, Professor of the Department of clinical psychology and psychotherapy, Deputy Dean for Educational and Methodological Work, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2866-2810, e-mail: rychkovao@bk.ru

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