Activity 4!

As I originally heard about this topic, I was completely against the idea of using a drug, specifically amphetamines to enhance the alertness of pilots. However, reading the three articles has definitely broadened my view and reading about the pros and cons had led me to side for the use of amphetamines. As the articles mentioned, the pill provides the opportunity for pilots to have a backup plan incase the fatigue gets to a point where they can’t handle it anymore. It can prevent a person from having a fatal crash just because the pill provided them with the alertness they needed. It has been used in the past and has proved to be very effective.

             The military is definitely distributing the pills in an ethical manner. According to the second article, each pilot is given the pill prior to going on flight just as an option. No pilot is ever pressured in to taking it. There is clear record of who has taken the pill and who hasn’t and the remaining pills are taken back after the mission. They also make the pilot sign a form, which allows them to acknowledge that the FDA hasn’t approved it and that it is completely voluntary. Two of the articles stated a quote the following Gulf War commander: “If you can’t trust them with the medication, then you can’t trust them with a $50 million airplane to try and go kill someone.” They trust that the pilots won’t abuse the pill and they don’t pressure them it to taking it. They understand that it affects everyone differently and there are side effects. It just serves as a last resort in a life or death situation.

            I think the careers of pilots can suffer without the pill because of the long hours of their job and the focus needed to succeed. They’re putting their lives at risk and if given the opportunity to help them from losing focus, they should be given the chance to take it. As far as consequences, the drug is classified as a schedule II. In class we discussed the different schedules and I think this may be a little too strong or dangerous for the pilots. It can affect certain individuals differently. The drug might have differing effects on people who are tired as oppose to people who are well rested. Also, there has been research done on whether the drug can help someone with alertness or impair his or her judgment. It runs the risk of a pilot not making the right decision because of the negative effect of the drug. The side effects that include high blood pressure and a fast heart rate can also affect the pilot negatively. In order to reduce these consequences, research needs to be done on the effects the drug can have in several different behavioral states. I think scientists also need to look in to other forms of methods, which can enhance the alertness of pilots or find another medication, which doesn’t have as many negative side effects.