"Heck, I have a hard time driving more than a half hour because the dotted lines on the road start doing something to my head...I've driven off the road before. On the amps? I can drive for 7 hours straight."

Manual or automatic?

I used to drift off a lot when driving. I've switched to a car with a manual transmission and I find it much easier to stay focused. Coincidentally I found an article on PubMed on how those with ADD perform better on a driving simulator with a manual transmission vs. automatic.

This doesn't make sense to me. If the brain works so much better with a bit more dopamine (with no side effects), then why isn't it that way in the first place?

I was diagnosed with ADD some time ago and I was prescribed Ritalin. I don't take it regularly since it doesn't seem to make much difference as far as my supposed ADD is concerned, but I have used it a few times when cramming overnight and it's great, much better than caffeine. But after using Ritalin this way to avoid sleeping, I'm pretty tired and I need a good night sleep to fully recover; it also tends to fuck up my mood. For these reasons I only use it as a last recourse. I don't see how someone could use it everyday and benefit unless they have a problem in the first place (i.e. ADHD).