Military demonstrates need for 'speed'
Hashim Gazi
Issue date: 4/21/03 Section: Iraq
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In the recent war on Iraq and specifically the speedy advance toward Baghdad, many soldiers supplemented their body's natural adrenaline rush with the use of performance enhancing drugs in order to stay awake and alert.
Pilots often take these drugs to fly 10-hour missions and then successfully engage a specific target. These drugs include prescription drugs such as amphetamines, and over-the-counter dietary supplements such as a mixture of caffeine and ephedrine. They both have a stimulant effect.
Dr. Sum Lau, a professor and division chair in the Department of Pharmacology, said that amphetamines are structurally and functionally similar to methamphetamines (speed) but are less potent and do not effect the central nervous system as much.
"They cause a constriction of blood vessels, which serves as a stimulant to elevate mood and alertness while depressing appetite. They are normally used for diseases like Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)," said Lau.
Lau also said that amphetamine use often had clinical side effects like depression and hypertension. Aggression and paranoia may accompany the feeling of euphoria. Pilots who have been using these drugs for prolonged periods of time run a high risk becoming addicted to them.
A recent report in the Christian Science Monitor reported that "according to military sources, the use of such drugs (commonly Dexedrine) is part of a cycle that includes the amphetamines to fight fatigue and then sedatives to induce sleep between missions. Pilots call them 'go pills' and 'no-go pills.' For most Air Force pilots in the Gulf War (and nearly all pilots in some squadrons), this was the pattern as well. The drugs are legal and pilots are not required to take them-although their careers may suffer if they refuse."
The Christian Science Monitor also spoke with a squadron commander whose unit had the fewest pilots but flew more hours and shot down more Iraqi MIGs than any other squadron. The solider brushed aside concerns about the drugs, saying "If you can't trust them with the medication, then you can't trust them with a $50 million airplane to try and kill someone."
Pilots often take these drugs to fly 10-hour missions and then successfully engage a specific target. These drugs include prescription drugs such as amphetamines, and over-the-counter dietary supplements such as a mixture of caffeine and ephedrine. They both have a stimulant effect.
Dr. Sum Lau, a professor and division chair in the Department of Pharmacology, said that amphetamines are structurally and functionally similar to methamphetamines (speed) but are less potent and do not effect the central nervous system as much.
"They cause a constriction of blood vessels, which serves as a stimulant to elevate mood and alertness while depressing appetite. They are normally used for diseases like Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)," said Lau.
Lau also said that amphetamine use often had clinical side effects like depression and hypertension. Aggression and paranoia may accompany the feeling of euphoria. Pilots who have been using these drugs for prolonged periods of time run a high risk becoming addicted to them.
A recent report in the Christian Science Monitor reported that "according to military sources, the use of such drugs (commonly Dexedrine) is part of a cycle that includes the amphetamines to fight fatigue and then sedatives to induce sleep between missions. Pilots call them 'go pills' and 'no-go pills.' For most Air Force pilots in the Gulf War (and nearly all pilots in some squadrons), this was the pattern as well. The drugs are legal and pilots are not required to take them-although their careers may suffer if they refuse."
The Christian Science Monitor also spoke with a squadron commander whose unit had the fewest pilots but flew more hours and shot down more Iraqi MIGs than any other squadron. The solider brushed aside concerns about the drugs, saying "If you can't trust them with the medication, then you can't trust them with a $50 million airplane to try and kill someone."
