Is Ritalin Good Essay -- essays research papers fc

Is Ritalin Good? Have you ever suffered or known anyone that has suffered from attention deficit disorder? A.D.D. is a biologically based condition causing a persistent pattern of difficulties, which includes three types of behavior. These three types are difficulty attending or focusing on a specific task, difficulty inhibiting behavior, and difficulty controlling impulses. In 1950 the prescription drug Ritalin was patented and manufactured by the CIBA-Geigy Corporation. This drug stimulates the central nervous system, with effects similar to but less potent than amphetamines and more potent than caffeine (Bailey 1). Several million children are being treated with Ritalin on the grounds that they have attention deficit disorder and are suffering from there inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. In the past decade, there has been growing evidence that Ritalin has had negative effects on a child’s mind and behavior leading to such disorders like psychosis, mania, drug abuse, and addic tion. It suppresses creative and spontaneous activity making them more docile and obedient because of the way that Ritalin produces malfunctions in their brain rather than improving its function (Breggin 124). Prescribing Ritalin to children with diagnosed attention deficit disorder brings more negative side effects than solutions and leads to addiction. Most parents realize that their children have the disorder once the child starts attending school. Most of the time teachers are the ones who point out the child’s symptoms. The parent then takes the child to a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist for answers. â€Å"The American Psychiatric Association lists fourteen signs, of which at least eight must be present for a child to be officially classified as ADD.†(Passwater 1) Out of these fourteen signs are normal actions of children. Some of these signs include fidgeting with hands or feet, easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, having difficulty following instructions and blurting out answers before questions are completed. (Passwater 2) It would seem by these signs that when a child doesn’t seem to be adapting to our system, we label them as having ADD and prescribe them Ritalin. With the new increase in prescriptions being filled around country, more and more children are on Ritalin, so much that the nega... ...f any kind. Works Cited Bailey J. William. â€Å"FACTLINE on Non-Medical Use of Ritalin.† Indiana Prevention Resource Center November 1995: 1-6. Indiana University. Online. 22 March 2001. http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/pubs/factline/ritalin.html Breggin K. Peter. â€Å"Talking Back to Ritalin†. Maine: Common Courage Press, 1998. Hanchett, Doug. â€Å"Speed Chills: Ritalin hits campuses: College kids Using drug to study, party.† Boston Herald May 21, 2000: 1-4. Local and Regional. Online. 22 March 2001. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/rita05212000.htm Passwater A. Richard. â€Å"Ritalin Warnings: Side Effects, Cautions, Alternatives for ADD, ADHD† Ritalin Alternative 1999: 1-13. "All About Pycnogenol" Avery Publishing Group. Online. 23 March 2001. http://www.ritalinalternative.com/index2.html â€Å"Ritalin Led To Boy's Death.† The Associated Press April 18, 2000: 1-3. Channel 25 Eyewitness News. Online. 24 March 2001. http://www.thewpbfchannel.com/sh/health/stories/health-20000418-163859.html Wen, Patricia. â€Å"As Easy To Get As Candy.† The Boston Globe Oct 29, 2000: 1-13. Conservative News Forum. Online. 20 March 2001. http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39fca5b129fd.htm