> Maybe it's just ableism or puritanical views against the idea of stimulants
It was very widely abused in my college days. There was also a (IMHO justified) concern over whether it was being over-prescribed as a way to deal with problematic behavior in children, rather than actually putting in the effort as a parent or medical professional to get to the root of the issue.
With that said, I do know people who genuinely have either ADD or ADHD, and who struggle to function without some form of pharmacological help in addition to therapy. Limiting their access to stop others from abusing it is unethical, whatever a cost/ benefit analysis might say.
I found the stronger stimulants robbed me of joy in life, I became very productive though. A good worker. Wellbutrin prevents my catastrophic thinking and feelings of being overwhelmed. I still miss meetings and procrastinate, but I also still whistle a tune while watching the sunlight pass through the leaves of a tree. That stopped on the strong stuff. All that anectdata aside, some people need the strong stuff, but many more are using it to fit perfectly into a world that no one should have to fit into. Antidepressants cause a similar problem, where people put up with situations they shouldn't. Just because the stimulants allow you to handle a certain amount of stress or work, doesn't mean you should.
It was very widely abused in my college days. There was also a (IMHO justified) concern over whether it was being over-prescribed as a way to deal with problematic behavior in children, rather than actually putting in the effort as a parent or medical professional to get to the root of the issue.
With that said, I do know people who genuinely have either ADD or ADHD, and who struggle to function without some form of pharmacological help in addition to therapy. Limiting their access to stop others from abusing it is unethical, whatever a cost/ benefit analysis might say.