Limitless (2011) - Why the idea of a pill that makes you "Smarter" is a bad idea.

I'm sure many of you have seen this film starring Bradley Cooper as Eddie Morra, an author plagued by procrastination, or writer's block, as he likes to call it. Eddie is intercepted by his ex-wife's brother in the street one day who offers him an experimental FDA approved drug called NZT that, once taken orally, allows you to use %100 of your brain rather than %20. This works by stimulating the neurons in all areas of your brain at once causing you to have an energy rush similar to the effects of cocaine, except more civilized. When cocaine enters the bloodstream it interferes with the re-absorption of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure and movement which creates a "euphoric effect", and symptoms such as irritability, paranoia, hallucinations, reduced mental fatigue and mental alertness. This effect is VERY similar to what Eddie experiences once he begins taking NZT, except the symptoms are more positive than negative... he becomes a mature, focused individual who ends up making millions of dollars in the stock market in 10 days. Unfortunately, like most drugs, Eddie has some difficulties functioning properly when he stops taking the drug to the point where he almost dies. Scientifically, this would certainly happen over a long period of time as your brain would be used to you feeding it this substance to the point where if you stopped using it, your neurons would die, and you would too.

The idea of a pill making you feel better has made the world a better place, but once a pill like this comes to the markets at an estimated "$800 a pop", the world would be in shambles. Do you know why? because all the unmotivated chumps would suddenly be motivated to do something... get that drug. The rich would get smarter, and with the knowledge bar quickly rising, the poor would get dumber.The streets would be filled with violent citizens trying to get their hands on this drug and rich citizens getting smarter and wealthier.Essentially, the gap between the middle class of society and the wealthy class would extend drastically. Pharmaceutical companies would have to produce enough so that those who are on the drug don't run out... so in other words, $800 a pill could grow to any number that the rich CEOs in charge of the business would like.

When it comes down to it, if there was a drug like NZT released on the market and people found out about it, it would be bigger than crack cocaine and more harmful than methamphetamine. Here's another example: If I were to be an underground dealer of NZT and I walk through the campus of any University sold a pill to every student who had an exam the next morning that determined whether or not they got into graduate school that fall... I'd be incredibly rich by the next morning.

If you're going to rely on pills to make you smart, you really aren't that smart at all. Go and challenge yourself by reading a book, going to bed early, eating healthy and exercising. Pharmaceuticals like Adderall aren't the option to a better mind. Hard work, and determination will get you where you want in life, and I bet the ADHD diagnosed patients who are on loads of drugs right now trying to ace their way through university would surely agree.