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rescription drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall and Modafinil have traditionally been prescribed for sufferers of ADHD and narcolepsy, but according to the British Medical Association (BMA) they can improve memory, concentration and attention span in healthy people, as well as those with impaired functioning.

Despite the long-term side effects of such drug use in healthy individuals being largely unknown, some students at the University of Edinburgh said that their benefits outweighed any concerns of potential harm to their health.

“The drugs put you in a zone where you don’t mind working and are able to concentrate for hours,” said ‘Amanda’, a fourth year student who has taken Ritanol a number of times. “I don’t worry about the side effects at all, because I don’t think I take them enough to do me any harm.”

‘Amanda’ added that while she only took the drugs occasionally, she knew a friend who wrote his dissertation in five days using several pills each day to keep him alert and motivated.

Despite many students feeling no decline in their health after using such drugs, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence said the side effects of Ritalin could include insomnia, anxiety, stomach and headaches, as well as an increased heart rate, palpitations and raised blood pressure.

The BMA also warned of the hidden disadvantages of the cognitive enhancing drugs, including the risk of users being plagued by unwanted or painful memories as well as being prone to excessive wakefulness for periods of time.

Despite experiencing ‘sweatiness’, ‘anxiety’ and ‘feelings of nausea’ while she was on Modafinil, recent Cambridge graduate ‘Emma’ said that the sale of the drug became a ‘roaring trade’ during her final year at the university, with students taking it as often as two or three times a day for several weeks, or even months.

“Loads of students tried it and you would see people working day in, day out without a break,” she said. “You can do so much more when you’re on it and you are not only less distracted but really enjoy the work you are doing. I mean, students would actually deal them in the library during finals.”

However, when not prescribed, Ritalin is a class B drug in the UK, and possession can lead to a five-year prison sentence, with dealers running the risk of 14 years behind bars. Despite Modafinil also not being available without a prescription, Snowton said students could access the drugs relatively easily.

“I got the drugs from someone I knew who had ADHD and therefore had a constant prescription”, she said. “You can get the drugs if you want them here and I think it is quite rife among the Edinburgh community.”

‘Tania’, a fourth year Edinburgh student said she got her prescriptions direct off the internet site urantiapharma.com, where Modafinil is sold for as little as 46p a pill.

“I just order it online and use it when there is a work emergency and I have to get something done really quickly,” ‘Tania’ said. “It doesn’t make me wired or anxious and I think while the use is not yet widespread, there is a growing scene in Edinburgh.”