Ritalin is often referred to as "Kiddie
Cocaine" for good reason. Long-
term Ritalin effects have been linked to
brain development
abnormalities similar to those found with
cocaine use.
The Journal of the American Medical
Association, one of American's
leading medical journals, published an
article entitled "Ritalin Acts
Much Like Cocaine."
An Archives of General Psychiatry report
states; "Cocaine has
pharmacological actions that are very
similar to those of
methylphenidate (Ritalin), which is now
the most commonly prescribed
psychotropic medicine for children in the
U.S."
DEA data on methylphenidate and
amphetamine for the treatment of ADD
symptoms shows:
* That methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
and amphetamine
(Adderall, Dexedrine) produce effects
similar to cocaine in laboratory
animals and in humans.
* In clinical studies, methylphenidate and
amphetamine produce
behavioral and psychological effects
similar to cocaine.
* In simple terms, this data means that
the human body cannot tell
the difference between cocaine,
amphetamine, or Ritalin.
Ritalin effects children the same way
related stimulants like cocaine
effect adults. Just as predictably,
children are subject to Ritalin
side effects, as adults are subject to the
side effects of cocaine and
other stimulant drugs.
There is also evidence that early
childhood
exposure to Ritalin does diminish adult
nerve cell development.
(Many children are prescribed drugs such
as Ritalin, Paxil,
Resperdal, etc., for their symptoms which
may mask the symptoms and
not remedy the underlying causes.)
IRONICALLY, OUR SOCIETY IMPRISONS PEOPLE
FOR MANUFACTURING DRUGS SIMILAR TO THE
DRUGS PHYSICIANS COMMONLY PRESCRIBE TO
MILLIONS OF CHILDREN...
|
krystineM
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 1355 Location: mississauga, ontario Canada
Thanks: 30
Thanked:15
Posted: 03-22-08 19:11pm
does Ritalin perscribed to children with
ADD help calm down that super active or
violent gene in them when their diagnosed
with ADD or ADHD?
if it were a cocaine symptom, they'd still
be violent, causing harm to themselves, or
other weird abnormal behaviours, the
Ritalin helps calm that down.
Our siciety imprisons people for
manufacturing these drugs because its made
on the streets and mixed with more
chemicals than in a lab where its measured
to a certain amount.
[and also the amount of Ritalin given to
kinds is measured as well. their not going
to have the same amout as an adult with
ADD]
The kids who arent diagnosed with ADD or
ADHD are the ones having similar symptoms
as cocaine, because now there are "pharm
parties" where kids get together and dump
a bunch of pharmicuital drugs in a bowl
and they pop whatever is in the bowl.
Also kids are now selling Ritalin to each
other to stay away or to get a high. They
are the ones having these symptoms. Not
the ones who are perscribed and diagnosed
with ADD or ADHD.
|
nmangelfire
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 20 Location: ,
Posted: 03-23-08 02:47am
""Also kids are now selling Ritalin to
each other to stay away or to get a high.
They are the ones having these symptoms.
Not the ones who are perscribed and
diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.""
Sweetie, the only way you can get Ritalin
is if you have ADD or ADHD... Ritalin is a
C2 narcotic and can only be given by
prescription. And yes, it is very known
that kids are selling this stuff to
eachother.. Ritalin is in the same
schedule as morphine, percocet and so on,
right under the "street" drugs catagory. I
know a few pharmacists who are completely
against it because of its properties. It
is NOT a good "drug" for young children to
be on. I know a child who use to be on it
and the side effects were quite
disturbing. Get your facts.
|
krystineM
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 1355 Location: mississauga, ontario Canada
Thanks: 30
Thanked:15
Posted: 03-23-08 17:47pm
Ok, first, no need to be hostile.
Right, so how do you think the other kids
get it, the person with ADD/ADHD sells it
to them. Its happening in schools alot
more these days. If the child is having
symptoms like that, the parents are to
report it to the doctor, because the
perscription could be too high which is
causing the side effects that are
disturbing.
They can lower the dose so these side
effects dont happen, your not supposed to
just keep feeding the Ritalin to them if
they are experiencing these side effects.
It can have more extreme damage if they
keep recieving that high amount. Or they
need another perscription for ADD/ADHD.
|
nmangelfire
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 20 Location: ,
Posted: 03-23-08 18:24pm
Ritalin and Adderal are bad PERIOD...small
or large doses... look at my first initial
post... and yes I know, kids are selling
it in school, eh, what does that tell you?
They even crush it up and snort it just
like, hmm, what was it? COCAINE..all they
have to do is crush the pills and they
have themselves a few lines of "coke"....
Pill form or crushed form, it is not good
for young children.
|
Reptar
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 389
Thanks: 44
Thanked:13
Posted: 03-23-08 18:27pm
Yes, well, obviously the kids who were
prescribed the Ritalin would be the ones
selling it in the first place, unless
there is a black market for that type of
stuff. I'm not sure how they test for
ADD/ADHD, so unless there is a chemical
test for it, I'm assuming it might be
possible for someone to fake the symptoms.
Anyway, I've never met a person who took
Ritalin without having a prescription for
it, but does it really get people high
Krystine? I would of thought it would of
had an opposite effect?
My personal belief is that Ritalin is
prescribed way too often. I think it
should only be prescribed in extreme
situations, because I agree that some of
the effects are less than desired. I've
met a couple people diagnosed with
ADD/ADHD and they managed to control it
and channel it into something productive,
so I know it's possible. I also know young
children who've entirely lost their
personality while being on the drug. Like
a lot of drugs, I think a lot of other
treatments should be tried beforehand
because the side effects may outweigh the
benefits.
|
alziluth
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 10
Posted: 03-23-08 22:26pm
Just think of Ritalin as "Speed" and
you'll get the picture of why kids take it
that don't have ADD.
Also, Ritalin doesn't calm kids down like
a tranquilizer, it helps them to focus
their attention.
|
Reptar
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 389
Thanks: 44
Thanked:13
Posted: 03-23-08 23:03pm
Ah, okay, so that explains why it's traded
like caffeine around my over-worked
campus. Thanks for clearing that up
|
Lilly Ivy
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 1604 Location: Newell, WV
Thanks: 58
Thanked:95
Posted: 03-24-08 02:37am
"Don't take drugs kids!
Here, have some Ritalin/Aderall!"
It just irritates me putting 5 year olds
on pills. 'But they're hyper!' They are 5!
they are supposed to be jumping off the
walls. Play with them, wear them out, they
will pay attention.
It seems no one is perfectly healthy
anymore. Everyone has some type of disease
now and has to be on some type of drug.
|
Birch
Moderator
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 4049 Location: Bliss,
Thanks: 143
Thanked:13
Posted: 03-24-08 12:46pm
I think dietary changes could go a long
way.
|
krystineM
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 1355 Location: mississauga, ontario Canada
Thanks: 30
Thanked:15
Posted: 03-24-08 17:06pm
Some doctors instead of perscribing
Ritalin to children recomend Omega-3 which
has fish oil in it and apparently helps
that active gene that is found in kids
with ADD/ADHD, its safer and does no harm
to them, better than Ritalin. I dont agree
with kids being perscribed Ritalin
either.
Think about it, aside from Ritalin being
passed around like Pez candy, anytime you
walk in the doctors office and talk about
not feeling yourself, being stressed, over
whelmed..whatever the situation a pill is
perscribed right away. Prozac, Perks,
Razapam, you name it. Instead of getting
to the root of the problem an
anti-depressant or other type of stress
relief medication is handed out.
Some society we live in.
|
Reptar
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 389
Thanks: 44
Thanked:13
Posted: 03-24-08 17:27pm
krystineM
wrote:
Think about it, aside from Ritalin being
passed around like Pez candy, anytime you
walk in the doctors office and talk about
not feeling yourself, being stressed, over
whelmed..whatever the situation a pill is
perscribed right away. Prozac, Perks,
Razapam, you name it. Instead of getting
to the root of the problem an
anti-depressant or other type of stress
relief medication is handed out.
Some society we live
in.
While I'll generally agree with this
statement (as it's true for most people I
know), my doctor is very much against just
handing away pills. I think having a
family doctor for a long period of time
really helps because they become connected
to their patients. My doctor suggested
counselling, lifestyle and dietary changes
before prescribing anti-depressants.
|
krystineM
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 1355 Location: mississauga, ontario Canada
Thanks: 30
Thanked:15
Posted: 03-24-08 23:03pm
Your probably one of the few lucky ones
who have a relationship like that with
their doctors.
To others, you are nothing more than a pay
check, and to have you come in and out to
them is like breathing in air. They dont
want to take the time, dont want to talk
or suggest Talk Therapy, just hand you a
perscription and off you go.
Especially some parents, they dont want to
get to the root of a problem, just get
some pills in you to make you "normal" and
not have to deal with the 'problem'.
Yes Add/ADHD is a serious problem, but the
perscription [Ritalin] that is handed out
to kids who need it, should be monitored
with how they respond.
I mean even when your given an
anti-depressant, the doctor says come back
and let us know of any unusual behaviour
or feelings you have while on this
medication.
Are the parents failing to do this?
BEcause that can be the root of the
problem. A cut back on the dose, or
different medication could make those side
effects go away; but if the parents are
just getting them on something to get them
to be stable, i dont think they would take
that much time and consideration into what
the drug could be doing to their kid.
But again, i really think the extreme
abnormal behaviour comes from the kids who
are given Ritalin [from kids who have
Ritalin for ADD/ADHD] and abuse it and
take it to get a high feeling and feel
good feeling. When they dont have that
drug, they get aggresive just like someone
who cant fine Cocaine would get.
|
Ingi
Moderator
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8914 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
Thanks: 172
Thanked:197
Posted: 03-25-08 11:23am
krystineM
wrote:
To others, you are nothing more than a pay
check, and to have you come in and out to
them is like breathing in air. They dont
want to take the time, dont want to talk
or suggest Talk Therapy, just hand you a
perscription and off you go.
A lot of children have medication AND
therapy. It works better together.
krystineM
wrote:
Especially some parents,
they dont want to get to the root of a
problem, just get some pills in you to
make you "normal" and not have to deal
with the
'problem'.
Many parents have no idea how to address
these kinds of problems in their children.
It would suite them well to take parenting
classes and be involved with their
children. However, this is not only
directed at children with Attention
Deficit Disorder with Hyperactiviy.
krystineM
wrote:
Yes Add/ADHD is a serious
problem, but the perscription [Ritalin]
that is handed out to kids who need it,
should be monitored with how they
respond.
I mean even when your given an
anti-depressant, the doctor says come back
and let us know of any unusual behaviour
or feelings you have while on this
medication.
They are. There are questionaires to fill
out, there are follow up appointments. It
isn't just children waltzing into a
doctor's office and holding out their hand
for medication.
krystineM
wrote:
Are the parents failing to
do this? BEcause that can be the root of
the problem. A cut back on the dose, or
different medication could make those side
effects go away; but if the parents are
just getting them on something to get them
to be stable, i dont think they would take
that much time and consideration into what
the drug could be doing to their kid.
But again, i really think the extreme
abnormal behaviour comes from the kids who
are given Ritalin [from kids who have
Ritalin for ADD/ADHD] and abuse it and
take it to get a high feeling and feel
good feeling. When they dont have that
drug, they get aggresive just like someone
who cant fine Cocaine would get.
I do believe a more well rounded way of
getting to the reasons for the behavior
needs to be established instead of giving
kids drugs. There are, as was talked about
earlier, diets and therapies that can help
and should be considered prior to
medication.
Also, I'm always amazed how these kids get
their hands on this medication. The
schools here hold onto it and if the kids
need to take doses during the day, they
are sent to the nurses office to have it
administered. Teens may have more control
over their medication - but if you took
away that control, this wouldn't be an
issue.
I'm not for or against medication. I think
people do what is right for them, in their
situation at the time. I don't believe
parents give these kinds of drugs to hurt
their kids. They do it thinking it will
help.
|
krystineM
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 1355 Location: mississauga, ontario Canada
Thanks: 30
Thanked:15
Posted: 03-25-08 12:13pm
The schools hold onto the medication when
their in Elementary school.
When their in high school they hold on to
it.
Which is why 'pharm parties'
pharmaceutical parties are happening a lot
more often these days.
Its really quite simple, go into the
medicine cabinet when parents are at work
or somewhere else in the house, and score
you've got your pills.
Yeah there are forms to be filled out, but
those questions can easilly be answered
by, well, anyone if you think about it. I
mean there's kids at the age of 5 or a
little older who YEAH! are going to be a
little hyper, and the form can be answered
pretty easily [by the parent] and there's
the Ritalin pills. Just like depression
pills, you answer a few questions, and
there's your pills, and a form saying come
back in a month for a refill.
Sometimes instead of a medication being
given out, all kids need who have ADD/ADHD
just need an activity, a sport, something
to channle that activeness in.
Sure, some dont know how to address the
problem, but a pill is not going to make
things better. Next thing you know your
kid is walking around like a little zombie
or making comments about not wanting to
live.
Their not hurting them, they just have not
asked the questions as to what they can do
to help their child.
|
Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-29-08 13:31pm
I have a very good friend who has ADD. He
is completely incapable of functioning
without Ritalin. He will tap against
something, be told to stop, stop, and then
start again because he simply doesn't
remember he was told to stop. He cannot
focus on work, and he's a lot more
annoying!! With ritalin, he graduated
college in the honor's program. He's an
incredibly intelligent young man.
|
Mommy35
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 3165 Location: Vacationland, USA,
Posted: 03-29-08 19:45pm
I think a lot more docs are prescribing
Concerta which is a hard tab and isn't as
easily abused. It's time released so it
doesn't give that quick high that the
others do.
Strattera is another option for ADD and it
is not a stimulant.
I worked with kids and I saw some amazing
changes in kids that took Ritalin. They
went from very impulsive and unable to
stay on task for longer than a couple of
minutes to calm and pleasant to be around.
I have also seem parents that take their
kid in to get Ritalin so they (the
parents) can use it or sell it
|
krystineM
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 1355 Location: mississauga, ontario Canada
Thanks: 30
Thanked:15
Posted: 03-29-08 20:16pm
Mommy35
wrote:
I have also seem parents
that take their kid in to get Ritalin so
they (the parents) can use it or sell
it
i can definately see that happening.
And since you can just take your young
child in who is naturally hyperactive,
they will still perscribe it when really
they dont need it and parents will sell
it! thats horrible, but has become a way
of life for some.
there's people in other parts of the
world...and im ashamed to say one is my
mothers cousin...who sell their children
to get money for drugs.
there were 2 children, both were taken to
live with other family members and doing
very well, then the parents took the son
back and did the exact same thing to get a
drug and high. its terrible the conditions
some people put their children in.
|
lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 592 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Posted: 03-29-08 21:07pm
From personal experience as a parent with
an ADHD child, we were completely in the
dark about what it was at the time. All
the doctors told us it was hyperactivity.
Then, after a couple of years, the
diagnosis had a name, ADD and later ADHD,
and Ritalin was prescibed.
Ritalin was not very effective for our
child, so he went through a litany of
other drugs, with mixed results. Finally,
Cylert turned out to be the panacea we
were seeking and our son went on to be an
honor student and graduated from an ivy
league school. ADD or ADHD have nothing to
do with how intelligent a person is.
I was personally surprised when I read
that Ritalin was being used by students to
get high and was called "kiddie cocaine."
|
gematria
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 21
Posted: 03-30-08 15:20pm
lonestar, what were some symptoms your
child had from which you concluded there
was a problem?
