Ritalin

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tes have been diagnosed as having
ADD and are being treated with methylphenidate [Ritalin].” In March 1997, the board
declared, "The therapeutic use of methylphenidate is now under scrutiny by the American
medical community; the INCB welcomes this." The United States uses approximately
90% of the world's Ritalin.
The number of children on these drugs has continued to escalate. A recent study in
Virginia indicated that up to 20% of white boys in the fifth grade were receiving
stimulant drugs during the day from school officials. Another study from North Carolina
showed that 10% of children were receiving stimulant drugs at home or in school. The
rates for boys were not disclosed but probably exceeded 15%. With 53 million children
enrolled in school, probably more than 5 million are taking stimulant drugs.
A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Zito and her
colleagues has demonstrated a three-fold increase in the prescription of stimulants to 2-4
year old toddlers.
II. The Dangers of Stimulant Medication
Until recently, no studies have systematically examined the rate of psychotic
symptoms caused by routine treatment with stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate
(Ritalin) and amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall). Doctors who prescribe stimulant
drugs often seem forgetful to the fact that they can cause psychoses, including manic-like
and schizophrenic-like disorders. Without providing a scientific basis, the literature often
cities rates of 1% or less for stimulant-induced psychoses.
The rate of psychotic symptoms that appear during stimulant treatment has recently
been investigated in a 5-year retrospectives study of children diagnosed with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADH). Among 192 children diagnosed with ADHD at
the Canadian clinic, 98 had been placed on stimulant drugs, mostly methylphenidate.
Psychotic symptoms developed in more than 9% of t...