From the Reefer Madness of the 1920s through to the latest media spurt of “MDMA-related” teen deaths (it is this author's position that MDMA as a sole substance in and of itself is not in any way toxic or dangerous. Indeed, the mixing of MDMA with other multiple substances, or overhydration as a result of drinking too much water too quickly are, one might posit, more likely causes of death. Both of these dangerous situations are clearly the result of a lack of education, not the existence and use of the substance called MDMA), Britain as a nation has never been the most progressive in terms of its collective social attitude towards 'drugs'. 'Drugs' are bad is what every single one of us was told as a kid, and indeed was the general consensus when my first Cambridge exams rolled around in May 2012 and the issue of 'study drugs' first enjoyed a more public platform among the then-freshers of Caius.

The particular drug in question was Modafinil, which according to Wikipedia is a “wakefulness-promoting agent”, a prescription drug, basically, associated mainly with conditions like narcolepsy and ADHD. Taken early in the morning, Modafinil can make the impossible (i.e. a twelve hour day in the library with minimal social contact and even less fresh air) seem bearable, even doable.

A great sticking point of mine in relation to any drug use, which I'll get out of the way now, is that it is an extremely subjective matter and therefore one individual's experience(s) may not correspond to another's without anything too abnormal having occurred. Modafinil for me kept at bay the boredom-induced sleepiness we all know too well, allowing me to concentrate more easily, work more efficiently and even reducing my appetite, allowing for more hours in the library (duh). As my friends and I informed ourselves better, we 'upgraded' to Armodafinil, as some of us found we experienced fewer side-effects (which can include headaches and feelings of nausea with some higher doses, especially where more consistent use is seen).

Three years have passed since then and I certainly can't speak for the attitude towards drugs in the current student population of Caius, but on a more global level we have definitively seen some fantastic steps forward in terms of how certain nations – from Uruguay to Portugal, the Czech Republic to the USA – are beginning to think about their drug policies; or more accurately, about how said policies affect their citizens. It is only for lack of space and/or readerly interest that I don't here enter into a debate about whether drug use is a criminal or humanitarian issue; that is whether addicts should be thought of as criminals or as people, human beings with problems who are in need of society's help. It is, however, this slowly developing shift in the general attitude towards 'drugs' that I wish to address in the more immediate terms that each one of us finds ourselves in; the Cambridge exam term.

During my time here, I have known students who use cocaine as a study aid in exam term. Indeed, I've known of one rare case where an individual found a small quantity of MDMA every other evening or so helped him absorb his revision notes more effectively. I've seen prejudices constructed then evaporate around the (admittedly more common) issue of Modafinil usage, or the use of its cousin, and painter Andy Warhol's 'poison of choice', Adderall. What I'm effectively trying to say here is very clearly: each to their own.

At a personal level with the passage of these three years, I find myself in my final exam term and, as of the day of writing this article, yet to take one of the Armodafinil tablets I have in my drawer. In fact, I find that my 'study drug' of choice this year is cannabis – helping me maintain a constant level of interest and motivation where such things might otherwise be lacking, in terms of my more difficult topics and papers; not to mention inviting a more creative network of connections between my texts and films (MMLer, right here). I also enjoy the added bonuses of a reduction in stress or anxiety levels, a facilitation in regularising my sleep patterns and generally being less mentally worn-out than I used to be after a day on Armodafinil. Clearly my particular approach here is not necessarily advisable for everyone, but I would like to extend the suggestion that it is no less valid than anyone else's personal tactics for seeing themselves through the pressurised and difficult period that is the reality of the Cambridge exam term.

I therefore would tentatively like to suggest that in response to the original proposition of this article – namely, “Study Drugs. Yes or No?” – that the answer is in fact a resounding, and ironically appropriately ambiguous, IF IT WORKS FOR YOU. If you are aware of your specific needs, biologically speaking, if you are sensible and moderate in your usage, as applies to literally everything, including most obviously alcohol – and the consequential abuses thereof by probably every single one of us, if you don't run yourself into the ground and do the best you can, making sure you are also looking after yourself, then who is to say what right another adult individual has over his or her own body? Especially during times as heinous as Cambridge's exam term.