It seems like ADHD medication is following me this week—or maybe it’s the law of attraction at work as I keep coming across articles aligned with the key points I’ve been reflecting on recently.
A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights the growing use of prescription stimulants like Adderall and Vyvanse among young investment bankers, helping them manage the grueling demands of 90-hour workweeks. While the prevalence of substances to enhance performance isn’t new (cocaine was once the drug of choice), it’s become much easier to obtain legal alternatives. A quick five-minute online questionnaire can now yield a prescription, no shady drug dealers required.
The article centers on a young professional who, despite his own skepticism about having ADHD, found the medication transformative for surviving the intense pace of his job. Predictably, dependency followed.
This isn’t an isolated issue, nor is it exclusive to investment banking. We’ve seen a marked increase in adult ADHD diagnoses, likely tied to the expansion of telehealth and more relaxed prescribing practices.
While the article rightly calls for reevaluating workplace expectations and support systems, let’s be honest—this phenomenon isn’t going anywhere soon. The stakes are too high: major profits for companies and career-defining opportunities for individuals.
We need to acknowledge this for what it really is: the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to gain an edge in professional life. In many ways, it’s no different from using steroids in sports. Maybe the real question isn’t how to stop it, but whether we should allow informed adults to use PEDs under careful medical supervision.
I’ll let you all weigh in on that one.
Cheers,
Dr. G
LInk: https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/young-banker-finance-adhd-medication-adderall-d578a16f
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