Research and Analysis (17)

My preferred topic for the argument paper discusses the use of ergogenic and cognitive aids within the U.S. military.  
I'm interested in this topic because of the controversy involved.  There's two ways at this point in time to combat sleep deprivation.  The first is obviously through a more regulated sleep schedule, and the second is by implementing sleep reduction aids including caffeine, amphetamines, and modafinil. In these circumstances, the U.S. military is choosing to utilize both ergogenic and cognitive aids.  My interest in this topic stems from the attempt to balance the need for sleep and how that affects one's need or dependence on certain sleep reduction aids.  My stance on this subject is as follows:  U.S. military personnel need adequate sleep in order to perform well at their designated tasks, yet they experience a high amount of sleep debt and sleep deprivation.  If they do not receive enough sleep due to the inability to regulate an appropriate sleep schedule, then the next action to aid the personnel is the utilization of sleep reduction aids.  Although this might not be the best solution to the problem of sleep deprivation in the U.S. armed forces in regards to health, it seems to be the only option right now, especially if these aids are already in use. 
Two sources I plan to include are:
"Night of the Living Meds:  The U.S. military's sleep-reduction program" by William Saletan, and
"Sleep Patterns of Young Men and Women Enrolled at the United States Military Academy" by Nita Lewis Miller.