The rising use of cognitive enhancement drugs and predictors of use during COVID-19: findings from a cross-sectional survey of students and university staff in the UK.
Jamie L Tully, Oliver Bridge, Joseph Rennie, Joy Krecké, Tobias Stevens
Frontiers in Psychology 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356496 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 736 |
| Population | UK university students and staff aged 18-54 |
| Duration | First year of social restrictions (March 2020–February 2021) compared with the previous year (March 2019–February 2020) |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Keywords | Student drug use Cognitive enhancement Personality factors Psychedelics Psychoactive drugs Covid-19 mental health Personality psychology Academic performance enhancement |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Self-reported use of all drug types for cognitive enhancement rose significantly during COVID-19 social restrictions, with lower agreeableness as the strongest personality predictor. |
Abstract
The use of psychoactive substances to increase cognitive performance while studying has been termed 'pharmacological cognitive enhancement' (PCE). In previous years, several large-scale national surveys have focused on their use by students at university, including drug types, prevalence rates, and predictive factors. The recent coronavirus pandemic brought about widespread structural changes for UK universities, as students were forced to adapt to home-based learning and in many cases reduced academic support. No study has yet focused primarily on the impact of pandemic social restrictions on PCE in students and academic staff, and whether personality and demographic factors reveal user profiles that predict use during the pandemic period. A convenience sample of 736 UK students and staff aged 18-54 (M = 22.2, SD = 5.2) completed a cross-sectional survey assessing PCE prevalence rates, polydrug use, perceived effects, academic self-efficacy and personality during the first year of social restrictions (March 2020 - February 2021) compared with the previous year (March 2019 - February 2020). There was a significant self-reported rise in the use of all drug types (all ps < 0.001) during social restrictions, particularly with Modafinil (+42%), nutraceuticals (+30.2%) and microdose LSD (+22.2%). Respondents also indicated stronger PCE effects for all substances, except alcohol, in comparison to the previous year. Polydrug use with modafinil and other prescription stimulants increased the most during social restrictions. Personality factors and gender identity reliably predicted PCE use and lower agreeableness was often the strongest predictor, followed by identifying as male and lower conscientiousness. Academic self-efficacy and student/academic staff status were not consistent predictors. This is the first survey of UK students to investigate PCE during coronavirus social restrictions and to assess predictive factors. Findings reveal a rise in PCE use and polydrug use which we suggest is because of increased pressures on students created by the lockdown and reduced access to university resources.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users Psychedelic users with microdosing experience | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 1,116 |
| Microdosing psychedelics: Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction People aged 16 years or older who had used psychedelics and could comprehend written... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 525 |
| Psychedelic Microdosing: Prevalence and Subjective Effects Anonymous online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 2,347 |
| Self-Rated Effectiveness of Microdosing With Psychedelics for Mental and Physical Health Problems Among Microdosers Adults 18 or older diagnosed with at least one mental or physiological disorder by a... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 410 |
| Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities Adults recruited primarily from the online forum Reddit | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 909 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Psilocybin-Induced Decrease in Amygdala Reactivity Correlates with Enhanced Positive Mood in Healthy Volunteers Biological Psychiatry April 26, 2014
- Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting Psychopharmacology October 24, 2018
- Microdosing psychedelics: personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers Psychopharmacology January 2, 2019
- Lifestyle use of drugs by healthy people for enhancing cognition, creativity, motivation and pleasure British Journal of Pharmacology April 20, 2017
- The 21st century psychedelic renaissance: heroic steps forward on the back of an elephant Psychopharmacology August 23, 2017
and 2 more in the library