|
|
The use of smart drugs by college students
Schoberová, Tereza ; Nekola, Martin (advisor) ; Bryndová, Lucie (referee)
The bachelor thesis focuses on the use of smart drugs by university students. This phenomenon is becoming more popular in society, but it has not been properly researched and debated in the Czech Republic. The aim of this thesis is to describe experiences of smart drug use among selected university students in the Czech Republic and to understand their motivations for using them. The first part of the thesis, the theoretical part, describes what smart drugs are, what their prevalence is and how their use can be viewed through moral and social behavioural perspectives. The theoretical part also discusses how the use can be viewed as a social problem or a solution to social problems. In the second part of the thesis, the methodological part, the aims of the thesis, the research questions, the chosen research methods and the ethical aspects of the research are presented. The last part of the thesis, the analytical part, is devoted to the analysis of the collected data. The data was obtained through qualitative research conducted in the form of semi-structured interviews with nine students of Czech universities and analysed using open, axial and selective coding. The analysis of the interviews shows that the academic environment creates pressure on students, which students try to resist by using smart...
|
|
|
Nootropics and molecular mechanisms of their action
Staněk, Petr ; Novotný, Jiří (advisor) ; Mrózková, Petra (referee)
Nootropics have become the standart in the field of treating memory impairments and decline of cognition which are still more frequent problem when we consider aging of population in the western world. To better understand the capabilities and dangers of these drugs, it is necessary to widen our knowledge of the mechanism of their action. In this thesis I focus on the nootropics with the widespread use across the world (nicotine, caffeine) and on the drugs with long clinical prescription history and deeply explored effects on the cognition (methylphenidate, modafinil, piracetam, ampakines). Some categories of substances currently in the pre-clinical studies with good potential for future utilization are also briefly mentioned. The emphasis is laid mainly on summarization of the present knowledge concerning the mechanisms of action on the level of molecules, cells and the brain as a whole. The results of preclinical and clinical studies evaluating effects of these compounds on psychological values, memory and cognition are also considered here not only for CNS pathologies correction but also regarding healthy individuals.
|
guest ::
