The Dangers of Memory Altering Drugs

As the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan begin to fade, tens of thousands of American soldiers return home reliving their traumatic experiences overseas. Post traumatic stress disorder is a condition that affects millions of people of all walks of life, ranging from battle worn soldiers to people who have been involved in motor vehicle accidents. Sufferers of this disorder often experience nightmares, flashbacks, shortness of breath, insomnia, depression and irritability. This often debilitating condition has driven medical researchers to try and find a pharmacological treatment that may provide sufferers of PTSD some relief. Studies have suggested that drugs like Propanolol have the potential to dampen or possibly even remove the memories of individuals who have experienced some form of trauma.

However, are memory altering drugs the most effective way of dealing with PTSD? Recently, psychiatrists and other medical professionals have suggested that these experimental drugs may lead to lowered inhibition and the loss of an individual’s fundamental sense of identity. These potential side effects that may develop through the use of memory dampening drugs should cause scientific researchers and the public in general to question the efficacy of these new memory-altering drugs and whether they should be implemented as a replacement for psychiatric treatment.

Recently, Americans have rallied in support of memory dampening drugs that may provide relief to sufferers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In a recent article from the scientific journal nature, entitled Neuroethics: Give memory-altering drugs a chance, Adam Kolber argues in favor of these new memory dampening drugs. Kolber describes the fears over pharmaceutical memory manipulation as excessive and a possible hindrance to researchers attempting to prevent post traumatic stress in millions of people. In his article, Kolber advocates for drugs like Propanolol that may dampen the emotional pain of traumatic memories. Preliminary studies suggest that Propanolol can inhibit the formation of traumatic memories, but conclusive evidence for this attribute has yet to be found. Kolber also argues against conventional methods of dealing with traumatic memories, like therapy and psychiatric treatment, and in favor of pharmacological methods. Kolber feels that drugs may provide patients with a speedier recovery, allowing them to move past the traumatic memories that dominate their lives and on to a more normal and enjoyable existence.

However, even though certain drugs may potentially dampen or completely remove traumatic memories, many scientists suggest that some of the symptoms of PTSD may still remain. Dr. Monica Thompson, a consultant clinical psychologist at London’s Traumatic Stress Clinic, emphasized that post traumatic stress disorder is a complex condition with many symptoms other than just bad memories. Dr. Thompson claims that even if a treatment successfully dampens a patient’s unpleasant memories, the patient could still exhibit many potentially debilitating symptoms, such as high levels of fear and anxiety. In line with Dr. Thompson, Professor Chris Brewin, of University College London, suggests that research for pharmaceutical memory manipulation is still at a very early stage and much more work is needed to demonstrate that it could lead to tangible benefits. Professor Brewin also posits that without knowing the long term effects of drugs like Propanolol, memory dampening will not take the place of conventional treatments.

As the topic of memory altering becomes more popular, scientist are growing concerned that these drugs may alter a person’s fundamental identity. The President’s Council on Bioethics warned in 2003 that memory altering drugs like Propanolol may cause a loss in episodic memory or the memory of actual events. Psychiatrist Paul McHugh of Johns Hopkins University Medical School, a member of the presidential council that wrote the report in 2003, advised researchers to proceed with extreme caution. Supporters of memory altering drugs assume that painful emotions are distinctly separate from memories themselves. However, McHugh strongly disagrees with this assumption and fears that dampening an individual’s emotional response to a traumatic experience may inadvertently affect that person’s memory. McHugh claims that the best way to confront PTSD is to have the patient recall and process the emotions and sensations felt during the original event. According to McHugh, by taking away an individual’s memory, you are essentially taking away the best way for that person to deal with the pain.

Another fear that has sprung from the debate on memory dampening drugs is that these drugs may lower the inhibitions of patients. For example, soldiers who are in combat may be more likely to kill if they could significantly diminish the emotional toll of their actions, by simply ingesting a pill. The report by the presidential council on bioethics in 2003, argued that enabling soldiers to pharmaceutically dampen their emotional trauma may transform these young men and women into “killing machines” with little to no remorse for their actions. The report encourages scientist and researchers to not overstep certain boundaries that insure men and women remain human.

In the past medical research has provided solutions to many of the problems that plague mankind. However, in the case of memory altering drugs researchers may have overstepped their bounds. As many have warned, these drugs may result in the loss of an individual’s sense of identity and lowered inhibition. The inadvertent effects of these drugs vastly outweigh the potential benefits. With conventional treatments already in place, adopting new forms of drug therapy that may prove to be harmful and dangerous, seems to be irresponsible.

Works Cited

President's Council on Bioethics. Beyond Therapy: Biotechnology and the Pursuit of Human Happiness Ch. 5, 205–273 (2003). 7 Oct. 2011.

“Drugs Can Dampen Down Bad Memories.” BBC News.
3 July 2007. 7 Oct. 2011.

Vergano, Dan. “Scientists Debate Benefits of Memory Dampening Drugs.” USA Today.
5 Oct. 2011. 7 Oct. 2011.

Henry, Michael; Fishman, Jennifer R.; Yougner, Stuart J. “Propranolol and the Prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Is it Wrong to Erase the 'Sting' of Bad Memories?” bioethics.net. 2007. 7 Oct. 2011.

Kolber, Adam. “Neuroethics give memory altering drugs a chance.” Nature.
18 August 2011. 7 Oct. 2011.