Moral Question: Is using stimulants cheating when taking a test or exam?

Hey

So i have been thinking about this for a while; Is using stimulants such as adderal, ritalin and others, cheating when taking a test or exam?

I know many people (including myself occasionally) take stims to aid in some homework and studying for exams/tests, but is using them to get better test scores cheating? Especially if used on college exams, the SAT/ACT tests, and other placement exams.

What do you all think? Opinions and reactions?

Personally, i have yet to take stims on a test because i feel like it is slightly similar to athletes taking steroids to enhance their bodies/abilities. I really am not sure whether i should. I know it would most likely help me do better on tests, but i feel as though i am cheating. I dont care if im cheating 'the system' but i just have my own personal gripes with the matter.

 

I can provide some insight. My short answer is 'no- not cheating'. I was in a highly competitive graduate program last fall and I am prescribed stimulants for treatment resistant bipolar depression. So any academic benefits would be noticed since I don't have ADHD/ADD. They didn't help one bit with school. Sure i was able to work longer hours and such, but as for actually understanding the material, it didn't help. In fact, my condition got worse, I had to take a medical leave, and will return in the fall, but I plan on using less stimulants this time around. Seriously!

 

Do what you need to do to get ahead in life, without hurting other people directly. No one does everything by the rules (except for this one perfect guy I know... We call him captain america) so do what you can when you can.

That how I feel about it. I don't consider it morally wrong either because it is still you, it doesn't give you super human abilities. Would you agree that on a good day you are able to concentrate as well as with stims? I would. Steroids are different because they cause big changes.

 

Yeah, your right. When im having one of those 'great academic days' where i seem to be on top of everything, i can def concentrate as well as when i am on stims.

great! i agree man. i guess my only issue with taking them is that i am taking something that is not legally prescribed to me, to concentrate more on something. But after seeing a couple of people's responses, i think that it is ok.

:2thumbsup:

 

Not at all. You're not cheating or getting answers from anyone else. You're just helping your own brain to function more efficiently in the situation. The ideas and the answers are still coming from YOU.

 

Not at all, and especialy if you suffer from sever ADHD, i think everyone has add to some extent but some are much more severe.