Ritalin, Helpful and Harmful

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Recommended: ADHD—overcoming the specter of overdiagnosis, 2002

Ritalin - Helpful and Harmful When "20/20" and "Oprah" did segments about ADD on television, many parents felt that they finally knew what was "wrong" with their kids. They rushed to the doctor's office to find out how they could "fix" the problem. Most soon discovered a drug called Ritalin. It sounded simple. All they had to do was give their rambunctious or hyperactive child a pill three or four times a day, and magically he or she would be a perfect little angel. Most were so happy to find a cure that they did not stop to contemplate other methods of treatment, possible side effects, or get a second opinion. Dr. Sharon Collins believes this is because, "It takes time for parents and teachers to talk to kids. It takes less time to get a child a pill" (Hancock 52). Parents get stuck in the mind set that Ritalin is a cure all for hyperactive children. Many psychiatrists say that "about half of the children who show up in their offices as ADHD referrals are actually suffering from a variety of other ailments" (Hancock 52). Some doctors claim that "parents of normal children have actually asked for Ritalin just to improve their child's grades" (Hancock 53). When parents cannot get Ritalin from one doctor, they keep searching until they eventually find one who will prescribe the drug (Hancock 53). It is not hard to find a doctor to prescribe Ritalin, because many "think that by giving a child Ritalin, the likelihood of helping him is high and the downside is low" (Hancock 53). Ritalin has become the most prescribed drug for people with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An abundance of media coverage brought Ritalin to the attention of parents, educat... ... middle of paper ... ...ing a wide variety of side effects ranging from nausea to severe psychological dependence. The large number of prescriptions being filled has led to an increased circulation of the drug. This, in turn, leads to a greater possibility of misuse of the drug. Office staff and administrators have to come up with safety procedure to insure safe and proper dispension of the drug. Works Cited Bromfield, Richard. "Fad or disorder?" American Health June 1996: 32-33. Chisholm, Patricia. "The ADD dilemma: is Ritalin the best way to treat attention deficit disorder?" Maclean's 11 March 1996: 42-45. Hancock, LynNell. "Mother's little helper." Newsweek 18 March 1996: 51-58. Price, Joyce. "DEA restless about Ritalin: doctors are sounding the alarm about a popular drug used to combat attention disorders in kids." Insight on the News 1 July 1996: 39-40.

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