Gaming's New Drug Culture: Sex, Drugs and Counter-Strike

Twitch Guru ^ | August 28, 2006 | Aaron McKenna, Rob Wright

[rmlew]

Introduction

A common scene at today's LAN parties and competitive tournaments includes scores of young gamers and a very simple extra ingredient: energy drinks. Many gamers, whether they're aspiring professionals or amateurs who enjoy displaying their talents in front of an audience, will load up on Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster and other popular energy drinks loaded with caffeine, sugar, and various stimulants.

But if you look harder at some of these events, you may find something else that gamers are using to stave off fatigue: Ritalin. The prescription medication - generic name methylphenidate - is a potent stimulant commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome. Despite the fact that Ritalin and similar drugs are used to calm people with ADHD and improve their concentration, the drug is actually a powerful stimulant. It is so potent, in fact, that the U.S. federal government identifies methylphenidate as a Schedule II narcotic, grouping it with opium, cocaine, PCP, and Oxycontin.

It's no secret that Ritalin has been criticized in recent years for over-prescription and abuse. College students have taken to popping Ritalin, colloquially known as "Vitamin R" and "R-Ball," to keep themselves awake and increase their concentration during late-night cram sessions. Now the drug is being used for an entirely different kind of task: performance enhancement during gaming.

And Ritalin is not the only narcotic being abused by gamers for the purpose of enhancing their skills and prolonging play. Indeed, a number of drugs are becoming popular among gamers, from amphetamines to nootropics or "smart drugs". Young people are even experimenting by combining drugs, such as Ecstasy and Viagra.

[rmlew]

Perhaps building a rig that is too large to carry wasn't a mistake.

Are these things for casual play, or geek raves?

[kingu]

Geek raves for the big ones, though small ones are still social events.

[avg_freeper]

Wouldn't the sex part sort of require women?

Or are we talking Dr. Strangelove ratios?

[Xenalyte]

Okay, fess up. Which of you is mixing the Viagra with the Red Bull?

[Bacon Man]

Viagra and Red Bull you say?

[riverdawg]

"Wouldn't the sex part sort of require women?"

I skimmed the entire article and, while finding a couple of references to sexual activity at the party, I found no references to women. This was, after all, a video game party. I suspect the only thing of remote interest at the party to a woman would be the drugs; certainly not the geeky gamers.

[MikeD]

How times have changed. Mountain Dew and pizza were the staples at my old LAN parties.

[rmlew]

I haven't gone to one of these in 8 years.
Back then, the ration was 4-1.