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Ritalin And Its Uses
Ritalin and Its Uses Ritalin and Its Uses In recent years, more and more kids seem to be on a prescription drug called Ritalin(methylphenidate). This drug is being handed out more and more by doctors as a way of treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a complex neurological impairnment that prevents kids from concentrating. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, it rose fron 200 grams per 100,000 people to over 1400 grams per 100,000 people in the last fifteen years. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that about one student in every classroom is believed to experience the disorder. The rate of Ritalin use in the United States is at least five times higher than in the rest of the world according to federal studies. Are doctors just catching this disabling affliction more often? Or does society just want a convenient way to solve a complicated problem. Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that is somewhat similar to amphetamines. It was created in 1955, classified as a controlled substance in 1971, and became the drug of choice for ADHD in 1981. It is also used in treating narcolepsy. It is thought to activate the brain stem arousal system and cortex, and, like cocaine, works on the neurotransmitter dopamine. It appears to increase the levels of dopamine in the frontal lobe where attention and impulsive actions are regulated. When taken in its intended form under a doctor's prescritption, it has moderate stimulant properties. There has been a great deal of concern about it's addictive qualities and adverse affects. ADHD is a relatively new disorder. It was introduced in 1980, where it was labeled ADD(attention deficit disorder). In the 1950's, children were simply labeled "hyperkinetic." The term "hyperactivity" was added in 1987, hence the name ADHD. Not all children have the hyperactivity, and thus are labeled to have ADD. ADD is not treated with Ritalin; antidepressants are more commonly used. One of the problems with the label ADHD is that just because a child may be overly hyper, doesn't mean the child is not paying attention. The problem is, the child is paying too much attention to too many things at the same time. ADHD is children's #1 childhood psychiatric disorder. The prevalence is three times as likely in boys than girls. The children tend to be very bright, but are poor students because they cna't settle down. They blurt questions out before they are asked. They can't wait their turn, stop fidgeting their legs and tapping their pencils. They tend to be forgetful, have problems following directions, and lose things easily, as well as their tempers. This behavior occurs constantly. This may be a reason why teachers and school psychologists are adament in their beliefs; these kids are disrupting their classrooms, so they want the problem solved immeditately, and take the "quick fix" approach. Experts believe that more than two million children (3-5%) have the disorder. Some scientists believe ADHD is a result of a problem in pregnancy ranging from fetal alcohol syndrome to exposure to lead in utero. Others suggest that ADHD is hereditary. Dr. Russel Barkley, of the University of Minnesota reports that nearly half the ADHD children have a parent, and more than one third have a sibling, with the disorder. Ritalin as prescribed is taken orally, and takes effect in about 30 minutes and lasts for about 3-4 hours. Kids usually take 5-10 mg doses three times a day. Although many experts report that Ritalin is a positive treatment in 9 out of 10 patienst, and many parents and students claim the drug is a benefit in their lives', there are many who question the drug's long-term effects, dangers, misdiagnosis, and non-medical abuse. Diagnosis for ADHD isn't as easy as you think. There is no blood test, no x-ray, or no cat scan to determine a biological cause for the disorder. Teachers, even in preschool strongly advocate the drug(negative reinforcement???). School psychologists are even prescribing the drug before giving an evaluation beca...This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Electronic References. Please register below now! Get This Full Article After Registration
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