Ritalin Abuse

RITALIN, COCAINE, AND AMPHETAMINES SHARE THE SAME PATTERN 

Ritalin has been hailed by many parents and teachers as a miracle pill once described by its makers (Novartis, formerly Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals) as a mild central nervous system stimulant and by the New York Times as a mild stimulant that is roughly [equivalent to] a jolt of strong coffee. 24 These statements belie the fact that Ritalin has been known, since it was first marketed in the mid-1950s, to be a highly addictive drug subject to widespread abuse. 

Since 1971, the DEA has described Ritalin as a powerful stimulant that shares many of the pharmacological effects of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) agrees. In its book Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders (1989), the association states that Ritalin is neuropharma-cologically similar to cocaine and amphetamines, and that all three drugs share the same abuse patterns. The Diagnostic and Statistic 

According to the Clearinghouse Fact Series, the effects of intoxication with Ritalin are 26 

As with any stimulant, psychosis is a common result of Ritalin abuse, and may last for months, even after termination of use. 

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Martin WR, Sloan JW, Sapira JD, et al Physiologic, subjective, and behavioral effects of amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, phenmetrazine, and methylphenidate in man. Clin Pharmacol Ther 12 245-258, 1971 McCormick TC Jr, McNeil TW Acute psychosis and Ritalin abuse. Tex State J Med... 

Ciampa, L. Ritalin Abuse Scoring High on College Illegal Drug Circuit. CNN.Com (January 8, 2001). HEALTH/children/01/08/college.ri tali n/>. 

Bailey, William J., M.P.H., C.P.P. Ritalin Abuse. Clearinghouse Fact Series. The Trustees of Indiana University. Indiana Prevention Resource Center, 1995. Available online at http //www.drugs.indiana.edu/publications/ iprc/factline/ri talin. h tml . 

They described physical overstimulation, euphoria, and psychosis as consequences of Ritalin abuse. The two DEA officials wrote ... 

Eichhorst J,Etter M,Lepage, Lehotay DC. Urinary screening for methylphenidate(Ritalin) abuse a comparison of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and immunoassay methods. Clin Bichem 2004 37 175-83. 

Amphetamines are drugs that mimic the effects of epinephrine, or adrenalin. Because effects such as mental illness and brain damage can result from overuse of amphetamines, they currently have limited medical use. Metamphetamines are similar to amphetamines in structure and action but have fewer undesirable side effects. Ritalin (methylphemdate), commonly used to treat attention deficit disorder, has essentially the same mode of action as amphetamines. Ritalin abuse by middle and high school students has become a common concern. 

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