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The Dangers of Ritalin
by Linda Rhodes
International Chiropractic Pediatric
Association Newsletter September 1993
Do you know a child
who is easily distracted by outside stimuli? What about a c child
who blurts out answers to unfinished questions or talks
excessively? How about one that fidgets or squirms in his seat?
If so, that child may be diagnosed as having Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADHD) and be prescribed a dangerous drug called Ritalin.
ADHD is a so-called
"illness" described in the Diagnosis and Statistical
Manula of Mental Disorders 111-R (DSM 111-R) , the handbook of
psychiatry. The "symptoms" described in the DSM-111-R
include common forms of childhood activities such as those
described above, failing o finish chores, and difficulty waiting
turns in games (APA 1987). Ritalin, an amphetamine or
"speed-lie" drug, is prescribed to "treat"
ADHD in children and adults. However, when this drug is prescribed
most of the data given to parents about Ritalin is not true.
Statements like "Ritalin has no side effects",
"Ritalin is not at all addictive", and "Ritalin
will help improve your child's performance in school" simply
are not true. Ritalin has many dangerous side effects and
withdrawal symptoms, it is a highly addictive substance often
accompanied by crime, and, statistically, has not been shown to
improve the literacy of schoolchildren.
The
manufacturer of Ritalin, CIBA-GEIGY, warns that the drug must not
be used on children under the age of six. The long term effects of
Ritalin have not been established and the mechanism of how Ritalin
have not been established and the mechanism of how Ritalin works
in the body is not understood. There are also many other warnings
that should be known about the side effects of Ritalin. Among
these are stunting growth, depression, insomnia, nervousness, skin
rash, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, blood
pressure, and pulse change, and development of Tourette's
syndrome. Tourette's syndrome is a permanent and irreversible
condition characterized by body ticks, spasms, barking sounds, and
screaming obscenities. Chronic usage of Ritalin is also known to
produce psychosis
In addition to dangerous side effects and withdrawal symptoms,
Ritalin is an extremely addictive substance. Under Federal and
Georgia laws, Ritalin is classified as a Schedule 11 Controlled
Substance. This rating of Schedule 11 is given to prescription
drugs which have the greatest abuse and dependence potential.
Other drugs which share this category with Ritalin are morphine,
opium, methadone and cocaine. In fact, the DSM-111-R states that
"the patterns of use, associated features, and course of
Amphetamine Dependence and Abuse are very similar to those of
Cocaine Dependence and Abuse." The DSM-111-R goes on to state
that experience users of amphetamines and cocaine are unable to
distinguish between the two substances. The DSM-111-R continues,
"One of the few differences between the two classes of
substances is that the psychoactive effects of the amphetamine
last longer." Psychiatrists as well as the United States
government recognize that Ritalin is an extremely addictive
substance, although this is a fact rarely known by parents or
users of Ritalin. In a 1988 article titled "Rx Drug
Abusers Targeted", the Akron Beacon Journal stated that
Ritalin accounted for 80% of drug prescription abuse cases in that
area. Reports by law officers in numerous cities across Canada
recognized that Ritalin was responsible for more street crime than
any other drug in a 1987 article in the Western Report. The
article also noted that Ritalin was the street drug of choice all
across Canada (Whyte, Gallagher, etc. 1987).
One would think that despite
all the harmful side effects, withdrawal symptoms and addictive
effects Ritalin would, in fact, help children to perform better in
school. However, this has not shown to be true. Despite the
drastic increase in Ritalin administration to schoolchildren since
its introduction, SAT scores in the United States have dropped
rather than increased over the past thirty years. Since 1963, SAT
scores steadily declined for sixteen straight years, finally
leveling off in the range of 890-900. The former average SAT score
in 1963 was a 980 (Citizens Commission on Human Rights, 1993).
Ritalin, which is currently administered to thousands of
schoolchildren, supposedly improves he performance of
schoolchildren. However, the decline of SAT scores and study upon
study demonstrate the opposite.
No child deserves to be
drugged in order to make them conform to someone else's idea of
what it is to be "good"; to sit still, to await his/her
turn in games, etc. No child deserves to be placed on a drug with
such dangerous side effects as Tourette's syndrome and withdrawal
symptoms of paranoia and suicide. There are alternatives to the
behavior modifying drugging which is occurring to children all
across this country. Many successful non-medicinal alternatives to
Ritalin exist today. For further information on Ritalin or
alternative solutions for handling children diagnosed with ADHD,
contact the Citizens Commission on Human Rights at one of the
following addresses: 6362 Hollywood Blvd. Suite b, Los Angeles, CA
90028; 1-800-869-CCHR or P.O. Box 1561, Snellville, GA 30278
1-404-518-8868.
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