Korean parents rush to buy "smart drugs"

In just one week, the Korean college entrance exam, also known as Suneung, will take place.

Korean students take the national college entrance exam.

To control their children's anxiety before exams, many parents rush to buy pills advertised to make users smarter.

Lee, 18, currently studying at a private high school in Incheon, South Korea, is one of those taking the drug. In addition, the male student does not eat greasy, starchy foods and adopts a healthy diet so that the drug can maximize its effect.

“I heard it’s a traditional medicine that helps relieve anxiety symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and improves concentration,” Lee said. “It’s better to try something than to do nothing before an exam that could change your life.”

The drug Lee took was called “Cheongsimhwan,” which is marketed as a traditional herbal medicine that helps treat anxiety and stress. It is often used to recharge before an important event. For students, the drug helps treat excessive anxiety by stabilizing heart rate and blood circulation.

Similarly, there are also many herbal medicines on the market such as “gongjindan”, “cheonwangbosimdan”… used to improve anxiety and insomnia in students. The products are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Traditional Chinese medicine doctors also recommend using herbal medicines one or two weeks before the exam.

However, the Korean Medical Association warns that taking medication when students “don’t feel too anxious” can cause negative effects such as diarrhea and dizziness; thereby affecting the results. The effects of anti-anxiety supplements vary depending on each person’s body and dosage, and if not fully considered, it can cause dangerous side effects.

In addition to traditional medicines, parents and students also turn to supplements that are floating around the market. They are advertised to enhance cognitive abilities and work performance. These products do not require a prescription and can be purchased online.

Many people are even looking for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication to improve their concentration. Health authorities have detected nearly 700 cases of illegal sales of ADHD medication to 12th graders from August 4 to 14. This is a three-fold increase compared to the period before the Suneung exam in November last year.

Instead of using drugs without knowing their origin and usage, health care experts advise students, especially those preparing for university entrance exams, to eat a balanced diet to reduce anxiety.

Professor Baek Yu-jin, a family medicine specialist at Sacred Heart Hospital in South Korea, warned parents and candidates not to be influenced by false advertisements about dietary supplements that “support learning” or “enhance memory.” During the final stages of the exam, candidates should maintain their physical and mental health through a healthy, balanced diet instead of relying on supplements.

Professor Lee Hae-kook, a psychiatrist at the Catholic University of Korea, emphasized that ADHD medication is for patients who have difficulty regulating their cognition and behavior. Taking medication does not help students increase their ability to concentrate and perceive if they do not have ADHD, but on the contrary, it can cause side effects such as loss of appetite, increased heart rate, insomnia, and even hallucinations.

Source: https://danviet.vn/phu-huynh-han-quoc-do-xo-mua-thuoc-thong-minh-20241109094017823.htm