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Ritalin, the trade name for
methylphenidate, is a medication prescribed for children with an
abnormally high level of activity or with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is also
occasionally prescribed for treating narcolepsy. It stimulates the
central nervous system, with effects similar to but less potent than
amphetamines and more potent than caffeine.
Ritalin has a notably calming effect
on hyperactive children and a "focusing" effect on those
with ADHD so that, when taken as prescribed, Ritalin can be a
valuable medicine. Further, research funded by the National
Institute of Mental Health has shown that people with ADHD do not
get addicted to their stimulant medications at treatment dosages.
Because of its stimulant properties,
however, in recent years, there have been reports of its abuse by
people for whom it is not a medication. At their December 1996
meeting, members of NIDA's Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG)
noted that:
- Some stimulant users mix Ritalin
(or "West Coast") with heroin, or with both cocaine
and heroin for a more potent effect.
- Middle and high school students
crush and inhale the drug or take the pill orally.
- Some adults have been admitted to
treatment programs for abusing the drug from their children's
prescriptions.
- According to reports by youth
treatment providers, some adolescents continue to abuse the
drug, which is most easily available through diverted
prescriptions. Drug abuse treatment staffs in Boston also report
an increase in abuse among adults.
Because stimulant medicines such as
Ritalin do have potential for abuse, the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) has placed stringent controls on their
manufacture, distribution, and prescription.
Information provided by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse.
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