Table 4 Frequency and distribution of ethical, social and legal issues associated with the non-medical use of methylphenidate (MPH) for performance enhancement in print media (PM), bioethics (B) and public health (PH) discourses.

Social integration and acceptability

11

13

-

24

5

-

-

5

29

Social meaning

11

9

5

25

1

2

-

3

28

Unsafe

2

11

2

15

3

2

2

7

22

Abuse

11

1

5

17

1

1

1

3

20

Cheating

5

8

-

13

3

3

-

6

19

Inauthenticity, identity and personhood

1

12

-

13

-

5

-

5

18

Injustice and inequalities

-

10

-

10

-

6

-

6

16

Overprescription

9

2

4

15

1

-

-

1

16

Lack of autonomy, individual choice and informed consent

-

10

-

10

-

5

-

5

15

Illegality

8

2

-

10

3

1

-

4

14

Commercialization

1

7

-

8

-

1

-

1

9

Inefficacy

2

4

1

7

-

-

-

-

7