Based on reporting by Alexander Saeedy for The Wall Street Journal (December 2023) A Concerning Trend in Investment Banking In the high-pressure world of investment banking, a troubling trend has emerged among young professionals: the widespread use of prescription stimulants to cope with demanding workloads and intense competition. While Wall Street’s history with substances like cocaine in the 1980s is well-documented, today’s banking culture has shifted toward prescription medications as performance enhancers rather than recreational drugs. The Current Landscape According to extensive interviews with over 50 current and former investment bankers across more than a dozen institutions, the use of stimulants like Adderall and Vyvanse has become commonplace, particularly among entry-level analysts and associates facing grueling 90-100 hour work weeks. Recent Statistics and Trends 14 million people had prescriptions for ADHD medication by the end of 2022. 26% increase in prescriptions from 2012 to 2022. 27% increase in first-time Adderall prescriptions for people aged 30-44 from 2021 to 2024. Some clinics report that 50% of their clientele comes from Wall Street. The Path to Prescription The process of obtaining these medications has become increasingly straightforward: Specialized clinics offer quick consultations. Brief questionnaires focus on concentration and organization concerns. Telehealth services […]
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