Nat'l Institute on Drug Abuse: Ritalin

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Sat, 15 Apr 2006 13:07:28 -0400

[sSRI-Research] Nat'l Institute on Drug Abuse: Ritalin

 

 

 

 

 

Big Pharma in collusion with Big Medicine and corrupt governments

prescribe addictive poisons to the unsuspecting people, when then

occurs the obvious resultant problems with prescribing addictive

poisons, the real " drug abusers " , who prescribe this crap, turn around

and blame their victums and label them the " drug abusers " . What a

sweet deal, the drug pushers, after ruining their patient's health, then put the

blame on their victums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NIDA InfoFacts: Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Ritalin.html

 

Methylphenidate is a medication prescribed for individuals (usually

children) who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),

which consists of a persistent pattern of abnormally high levels of

activity, impulsivity, and/or inattention that is more frequently

displayed and more severe than is typically observed in individuals

with comparable levels of development. The pattern of behavior usually

arises between the ages of 3 and 5, and is diagnosed during the

elementary school years due to the child's excessive locomotor

activity, poor attention, and/or impulsive behavior. Most symptoms

improve during adolescence or adulthood, but the disorder can persist

or present in adults. It has been estimated that 3-7 percent of

school-age children have ADHD. Methylphenidate also is occasionally

prescribed for treating narcolepsy.

 

Health Effects

Methylphenidate is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It has

effects similar to, but more potent than, caffeine and less potent

than amphetamines. It has a notably calming and " focusing " effect on

those with ADHD, particularly children.

 

Recent research at Brookhaven National Laboratory may begin to explain

how methylphenidate helps people with ADHD. The researchers used

positron emission tomography (PET-a noninvasive brain scan) to confirm

that administering normal therapeutic doses of methylphenidate to

healthy, adult men increased their dopamine levels. The researchers

speculate that methylphenidate amplifies the release of dopamine, a

neurotransmitter, thereby improving attention and focus in individuals

who have dopamine signals that are weak.1

 

Methylphenidate is a valuable medicine, for adults as well as children

with ADHD.2, 3, 4 Treatment of ADHD with stimulants such as Ritalin

and psychotherapy help to improve the abnormal behaviors of ADHD, as

well as the self-esteem, cognition, and social and family function of

the patient.2 Research shows that individuals with ADHD do not become

addicted to stimulant medications when taken in the form and dosage

prescribed by doctors. In fact, it has been reported that stimulant

therapy in childhood is associated with a reduction in the risk for

subsequent drug and alcohol use disorders.5, 6 Also, studies have

found that individuals with ADHD treated with stimulants such as

methylphenidate are significantly less likely than those who do not

receive treatment to abuse drugs and alcohol when they are older.7

 

Because of its stimulant properties, however, in recent years there

have been reports of abuse of methylphenidate by people for whom it is

not prescribed. It is abused for its stimulant effects: appetite

suppression, wakefulness, increased focus/attentiveness, and euphoria.

Addiction to methylphenidate seems to occur when it induces large and

fast dopamine increases in the brain. In contrast, the therapeutic

effect is achieved by slow and steady increases of dopamine, which are

similar to the natural production by the brain. The doses prescribed

by physicians start low and increase slowly until a therapeutic effect

is reached. That way, the risk of addiction is very small.8 [-- oh

really?!!!!] When abused, the tablets are either taken orally or

crushed and snorted. Some abusers dissolve the tablets in water and

inject the mixture; complications can arise from this because

insoluble fillers in the tablets can block small blood vessels.

 

Trends in Ritalin Abuse

Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey *

 

Each year, MTF assesses the extent of drug use among adolescents and

young adults nationwide. MTF 2004 data on annual** use indicate that

2.5 percent of 8th-graders abused Ritalin, as did 3.4 percent of

10th-graders and 5.1 percent of 12th-graders.

 

Other Studies

ADHD has been more frequently reported in boys than in girls; however,

in the last year, the frequency among girls has greatly increased.9

 

A large survey at a public university showed that 3 percent of the

students had used methylphenidate during the past year.10

 

Other Information Sources

Because stimulant medicines such as methylphenidate do have potential

for abuse, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has placed

stringent, Schedule II controls on their manufacture, distribution,

and prescription. For example, DEA requires special licenses for these

activities, and prescription refills are not allowed. The DEA web site

is www.usdoj.gov/dea/. States may impose further regulations, such as

limiting the number of dosage units per prescription.

 

Treatment

For more information on treating ADHD, visit the Web site for the

National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, at

www.nimh.nih.gov.

 

 

* These data are from the 2004 Monitoring the Future Survey, funded by

the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health,

DHHS, and conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for

Social Research. The survey has tracked 12th-graders' illicit drug use

and related attitudes since 1975; in 1991, 8th- and 10th-graders were

added to the study. The latest data are online at www.drugabuse.gov.

 

** " Lifetime " refers to use at least once during a respondent's

lifetime. " Annual " refers to use at least once during the year

preceding an individual's response to the survey. " 30-day " refers to

use at least once during the 30 days preceding an individual's

response to the survey.

 

1 Volkow, N.D., Fowler, J.S., Wang, G., Ding, Y., and Gatley, S.J.

(2002). Mechanism of action of methylphenidate: insights from PET

imaging studies. J. Atten. Disord., 6 Suppl. 1, S31-S43.

 

2 Konrad, K., Gunther, T., Hanisch, C., and Herpertz-Dahlmann, B.

(2004). Differential Effects of Methylphenidate on Attentional

Functions in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 43, 191-198.

 

3 Faraone, S.V., Spencer, T., Aleardi, M., Pagano, C., and Biederman,

J. (2004). Meta-analysis of the efficacy of methylphenidate for

treating adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J. Clin.

Psychopharmacology, 24, 24-29.

 

4 Kutcher, S., Aman, M., Brooks, S.J., Buitelaar, J., van Daalen, E.,

Fegert, J., et al. (2004). International consensus statement on

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disruptive

behaviour disorders (DBDs): Clinical implications and treatment

practice suggestions. Eur. Neuropsychopharmacol., 14, 11-28.

 

5 Biederman, J. (2003). Pharmacotherapy for

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) decreases the risk for

substance abuse: findings from a longitudinal follow-up of youths with

and without ADHD. J. Clin. Psychiatry, 64 Suppl. 11, 3-8.

 

6 Wilens, T.E., Faraone, S.V., Biederman, J., and Gunawardene, S.

(2003). Does stimulant therapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity

disorder beget later substance abuse? A meta-analytic review of the

literature. Pediatrics, 111, 179-185.

 

7 Mannuzza, S., Klein, R.G., and Moulton, J.L., III (2003). Does

stimulant treatment place children at risk for adult substance abuse?

A controlled, prospective follow-up study. J. Child Adolesc.

Psychopharmacol., 13, 273-282.

 

8 Volkow, N.D. and Swanson, J.M. (2003). Variables that affect the

clinical use and abuse of methylphenidate in the treatment of ADHD.

Am. J. Psychiatry, 160, 1909-1918.

 

9 Robison, L.M., Skaer, T.L., Sclar, D.A., and Galin, R.S. (2002). Is

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increasing among girls in the

US? Trends in diagnosis and the prescribing of stimulants. CNS Drugs,

16, 129-137.

 

10 Teter, C.J., McCabe, S.E., Boyd, C.J., and Guthrie, S.K. (2003).

Illicit methylphenidate use in an undergraduate student sample:

prevalence and risk factors. Pharmacotherapy, 23, 609-617.

 

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