Rostrum

The Cultural Reliance on Stimulants

Arjun and Spencer Episode 3

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0:00 | 37:09

Stimulants are a category of drugs that facilitate the transfer of chemical impulses though your cognitive system, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Although there is a societal stigma against certain types of stimulants (such as cocaine), other stimulants such as caffeine are actively advertised in society. Spencer and Arjun explore the prevalence of stimulants and why they have become so normalized. Their search ranges from possible cognitive models of addiction to the cultural focus on productivity above all else. With caffeine dependence on the rise (Meredith, Juliano, Hughes, and Griffiths, 2013), it's important to understand not only how, but why we might force our brain to focus, even if it's to our own detriment.