Psychotropic drugs influence the brain, feelings, and behaviors. These drugs include antidepressants and anxiolytics such as Prozac, antipsychotic drugs, drugs used to treat sleep disorders, and CNS stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall, used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Selected ethical issues: 

• Criteria for eligibility and access to psychotropic drugs.
• Use of drugs to improve the cognitive abilities of children, whether they have ADHD or not.
• The influence of the drugs on the children taking them, with regard to self-perception, personal identity, authenticity, personal responsibility, the right to self-creation, and so on.
• Use of drugs without medical indication in healthy individuals for cognitive enhancement (see “neuroenhancement”).
• Use of psychotropic drugs to manipulate memory – memory editing/change.