The Influence of Drug Characteristics, Social Environment, and Personal Characteristics on Cognitive Enhancement Drug Use

Cognitive enhancement (CE) via pharmaceutical agents has been intensively and controversially discussed by scientists and the media. We investigate several drivers of and obstacles to the non-medical use of prescription drugs to augment brain capacity by using an extended version of the Rational Choice Theory (RCT).

We conducted a web-based study among 2,877 students from randomly selected disciplines and German universities. Via a factorial survey, respondents expressed their willingness to take a hypothetical CE drug described by five experimentally varied drug characteristics (costs and benefits) and three varied characteristics of the social environment. Personal characteristics and demographic controls were also measured.

We found that 65.3% of the respondents strongly refused to use CE drugs. The results of a multivariate negative binomial regression indicated that drugs promising strong augmentations of brain capacity (benefits) and a high probability of achieving this amplification increased respondents’ willingness to use CE drugs. A high probability of side effects (costs) and a high price decreased this willingness. Prevalent CE drug use among peers increased willingness, whereas a social environment that strongly disapproves of these drugs decreased it. Regarding the respondents’ characteristics, strong academic procrastination, high cognitive test anxiety, low intrinsic motivation, low internalization of social norms against CE drug use, and experiences with CE drugs increased willingness. No effects were found for the severity of side effects, social recommendations about using CE drugs, risk preferences, and competencies.

The application of the rational choice theory and our findings contribute to the understanding of factors influencing CE drug use. They support the assumption of instrumental drug use and may contribute to the development of prevention, policy, and educational strategies.