Methylphenidate: Calming Chaos or Cultural Genocide?
Energetic, rowdy, animated. These adjectives, often used in describing the routines and milieu of the child, are now not as accurate as they once were. Words such as focused, calm, and attentive can be applied more readily. The differentiating characteristic between these two groups—methylphenidate.
A central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, methylphenidate—more commonly known as Ritalin—is drug prescribed in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) ((1)). AD/HD, by definition, is "developmentally inappropriate behavior, including poor attention skills, impulsivity, and hyperactivity" sustained for more than 6 months, appearing usually during childhood2 ((2)). Figures estimate an approximate 3-5% of children are affected by the disorder. Differing views, however, exist about the legitimacy of the majority of these diagnoses. In light of this, the object of this assessment is to examine the bodily and societal implications of methylphenidate.
The need for Ritalin and other CNS stimulants arises from a decreased amount of dopamine—a hormone closely linked to the motivational process((3)). A deficiency of this hormone can lead to difficulty in focusing and agitated behavior, among other traits1 ((1)). Methylphenidate, serving as a stimulant, augments the release of this hormone. The resulting state is similar to that after caffeine, on a milder scale, or amphetamines1 ((1)). This attribute can lead to the somewhat addictive nature of the drug.
"Ritalin, Ritalin, seizure drugs, Ritalin. So goes the rhythm of noontime for Mary Jane Kemper, nurse at Donald McKay School in East Boston, as she trots her tray of brown plastic vials and paper water...
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3) For School Nurses, More Than Tending the Sick, New York Times,
https://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=4647240a3c4771811b2b45cd0aadb8e7&_docnum=3&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkVb&_md5=95dc84dc83af97f9effb6c9c5711e3a4
4) Wonder Drug Misused ABCnews.com,
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/Living/GMA030225Ritalin_abuse.html
5) Statistics confirm rise in childhood ADHD and medication use, Education-World statistical information,
http://www.education-world.com/a_issues/issues148a.shtml
6) Medications Reduce Incidence of Substance Abuse Among AD/HD Patients, NIDA journal article,
http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol14N4/ADHD.html
7) Ritalin Abuse Spreads to Adults The Gazette (Montreal),
https://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=2435240077bc413c1f12274a7ab48422&_docnum=22&wchp=dGLbVlb-zSkVb&_md5=18ef62552ec2b9b4f9507864246cba88
ADHD is believed to be caused by abnormalities in the dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain (Berne 4). The symptoms of ADHD include inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity that are inappropriate for a person's age level. In other words, the patient’s brain is like a light constantly going off and on at the worst possible times. Although there is no cure for ADHD, treatment can help control symptoms. Stimulant therapy is the most commonly used type of treatment. These drugs improve ADHD symptoms in 70 percent of adults and 70-80 percent of children shortly after starting treatment (ADHD 3). Adderall RX, or its formal name of Methylphenidate, is the most common form of treatment for ADHD. In an article by Dr. Phillip W. Long, he states that, “The mode of action in man is not completely understood, but meth...
Smith, D. A. (1996). Third World Cities in Global Perspective: The Political Economy of Uneven Urbanization. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press Inc.
Wire, B. (2013, october 26). GameStop Plays it Forward and Partners with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R) for Annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving(R) Campaign. Retrieved November 6, 2013, from Digital Camera Times: http://digitalcameratimes.com/gamestop-announces-the-gamer-fund-charitable-organization/
It was even reported that if this continued, he would be more than ready for preschool-type activities. This typically requires children to stay on task or remain in “group time” for 10-15 minutes. We know that temperament is an important influence on development and the related concept of moderately novel activities, but can also be determined by the experiences parents and early childhood settings provide.
Very few modern or even classical novels present a psychological tale like that presented in Anthony Burgess's magnum opus and controversial novel, A Clockwork Orange. The novel follows the protagonist and narrator, Alex, who is not a given a surname until the film adaptation. Alex, while the protagonist of the novel, is a violent person up to the second to last chapter of the novel. However, the underlying psychology behind every one of Alex's actions rings true and presents a compelling argument about the nature of free will, violence, and what makes a man human.
Psychotropic medications, also referred to as psychiatric or psychotherapeutic medications, are used to treat psychiatric disorders, such as: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They have been used for many years and oftentimes come with dangerous side effects. The side effects that often occur in children taking these medications can include: fainting, blurred vision, vomiting, extreme weight gain, and even death ("Seroquel information,” n.d.). The use of psychotropic medication to treat mental disorders in children and adolescents is highly controversial because of ethical viewpoints (i.e. parents “drugging” their children to calm them down) and potentially harmful side effects, but one has to take into consideration whether the risks outweigh the benefits when deciding whether or not to give this type of medication to children.
"Teen Pregnancy Prevention Focusing on Evidence: Ineffective Abstinence-Only Lessons Being Replaced with Science." The Nation's Health Apr. 2010: 1+. Academic OneFile. Web. 4 Apr. 2012.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most widely diagnosed “mental-illness” in children in the United States today, and approximately 99% of children diagnosed are prescribed daily doses of methylphenidate in order to control undesirable behaviors. (Stolzer)
“Teens Abusing and Selling Ritalin for High.” ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures. 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 6 March 2014.
The President of the United States is considered to be the most powerful person in the world. However, the President is not given the full power, as we think they are given. The President’s legislative powers are defined by a checks and balances system among the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch of the American Government. What are the President’s legislative powers? The two main legislative powers the President has is to pass or sign a bill and to veto a bill. However, even if the President vetoes a bill, Congress can still override that veto by a two-thirds vote from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
...rding to the parameters set for a four year old, this child exhibits a more mature development in the areas of social and language skills.Overall I can say that he is a happy extroverted boy.
The power of the Executive branch has expanded over time to become the most authoritative division of government. In contrast to the Constitution 's fundamental designer, James Madison, who predicted the Legislative branch would dominate due to it’s power in making laws and regulating taxes/spending, the executive powers have proven to be superior and ever broadening. From the birth of the Republic, the President has sought to protect his rights and seek beyond his restriction of power. Setting the precedent as early as 1795, George Washington refused to relay documents relating to the Jay Treaty to the House of Representatives and saw his actions as a justified act of “executive prerogative.” Moreover, weaving throughout the Nineteenth century, presidents such as Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln conceived and added functions, such as the extensive use of the veto and the president’s direct and active role as Commander in Chief to their executive tool-belt. The Constitution communicates very little details regarding the President’s use of the power of veto and the role as Commander in Chief, but it was these presidents which established the major authority of the executive branch in these areas.
Not only expecting the reader to share the same idea that comprehensive sex education is the more beneficial alternative, the authors also believe the reader considers the rate of teenage pregnancy in our country as a bad thing and that there needs to be some sort of action to decrease it. To assume that the reader believes teen pregnancy is bad is a safe assumption to make. Culturally, in the United States, teen pregnancy is not the norm. Although it may be safe to assume that teen pregnancy itself is bad, it is not as safe to assume that abstinence-only education is completely ineffective. Like the authors sated, there could be a lot of opposition to teaching middle school and high school students how to properly use contraception. Many people reason that showing students how to safely and knowledgably prevent pregnancies and STDs will only increase sexual behavior among teenagers (1). In addition to the warrants the authors make, the backing used to support their assumption that abstinence-only education is not effective is in the form of national data on the public opinion of adults that support comprehensive sex education programs. 82% of adults, ages 18 to 83, support comprehensive sex education while only 36% support abstinence-only education (8). The authors’ backing for this warrant is credible knowing that it comes from a sophisticated
Throughout her article, Jennifer Robinson presents a strong argument against the concept of "global or world cities". To begin, she explains that urban scholars have studied the idea of the global city by dichotomizing the nation where a city is located by labelling it ‘third world’ or ‘West’. This dichotomy is problematic for many reasons, including the fact that it favors western principles and promotes the expansion of their hegemonic cultural presence. As Robinson explains, “‘Urban theory’ is based primarily on the experiences and histories of western cities — much as Chakrabarty (2000) suggests that the theories and categories of historical scholarship have been rooted both in western experiences and their intellectual traditions” (Robinson
The government likes to pretend that if high school students get taught the “abstinence-only” method they would never think of taking part in sexual activities. Statistically this is incorrect. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “56 percent of high school students are virgins”(Martin). For the 56 percent abstinence only is doing them well, but there are still 44 percent of high school students engaging in sex without knowing the precau...