Honors Theses
Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Philosophy and Religion
First Advisor
Neil Manson
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The goal of this thesis is to examine the current state of prescription stimulant use, particularly on college campuses, and the impact of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) dilemma. I will first discuss the science explaining and relating ADHD etiology and the effects of stimulant medications on the mind and body. I will then discuss the accepted criteria for ADHD diagnosis and the ambiguity they create. Next I will identify the central issue: the widespread illicit use of stimulant medications, particularly for academic purposes. I will expound on the development of this situation, the influence of the competitive collegiate atmosphere, and the ethical questions that follow. Finally I will discuss alternate paradigms for the regulation of prescription stimulants, and I will conclude by proposing a potentially equitable solution derived from the Principlist system of ethics.
Recommended Citation
Maxwell, Joseph L., "The Prescribed Advantage: An Examination and Ethical Discussion of the Growing Prescription Stimulant Culture" (2015). Honors Theses. 486.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/486
Accessibility Status
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