We met for a brief minute, and I received a white envelope with three different kinds of pills. It was a quick, no-fuss deal.

While the modafinil came in the original Modalert-branded packaging, the oxiracetams and noopept pills were prepacked in small Ziploc bags with their names written on it.

If I were really to consume these pills, I would have to trust that they were packed in good faith and I had in fact not been scammed. Worse still, the pills could be harmful or even deadly if they were not the real deal.

A former user of modafinil, John (not his real name), tells me that despite their moniker, nootropics do not actually make you smart.

The film Limitless, which has led to a cult following of nootropics, revolves around a mysterious NZT-48 pill that makes Bradley Cooper’s character seemingly more intelligent.

But it is all a fantasy, as nootropics do not build neural connections in your brain – the underlying factor of increased intelligence.

The effects of heightened concentration and memory power from taking nootropics are most amplified in people who are already of a certain aptitude, says John, “They build from your foundation – the lesser you already have, the milder the benefits. So students who already do not do well in school will not experience huge gains from taking a pill.”

“But if you are already a math or science whiz, your abilities may go through the roof.”

In June this year, The Straits Times reported that smart drugs were increasingly being used by students, some as young as 16, to help with their last-minute exam revision.

Carousell and Telegram were cited as some of the online platforms that made obtaining such drugs much easier.

Five months on, it seems that the ease of access has not been curbed at all.

Other drugs that I had found on Carousell included nitrazepam, a hypnotic drug used for short-term relief from severe anxiety and insomnia, as well as valium, which treats anxiety, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, and seizures.