I think for some, it can definitely be called a high. For a person with ADHD, modafinil-induced hyperfocus can feel like an absolute trip. For a boring weekend with no energy to do anything, modafinil can mean the difference between doing something for hours and just browsing Instagram till you feel sick.

If the above examples sound beneficial, they may be - in part. But I'm sure clinicians and mental health practitioners can see how such a substance embedding itself in your life can yield undesirable outcomes, perhaps mirroring addiction.