(DEA) Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

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[sSRI-Research] U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement

Agency (DEA) - Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

 

 

 

 

U.S. Department of Justice

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

 

http://www.adhd-biofeedback.com/DEA.html

 

1. Ritalin is a Schedule II stimulate, structurally and

pharmacologically similar to amphetamines and cocaine and has the same

dependency profile of cocaine and other stimulants.

 

2. Ritalin produces amphetamine and cocaine-like reinforcing effects

including increased rate of euphoria and drug liking. Treatment with

Ritalin in childhood predisposes takers to cocaine's reinforcing effects.

 

3. In humans, chronic administration of Ritalin produced tolerance and

showed cross-tolerance with cocaine and amphetamines.

 

4. Ritalin is chosen over cocaine in self-administered preference

studies in non-human primates.

 

5. Ritalin produces behavioral, physiological and reinforcing effects

similar to amphetamines.

 

6. Ritalin substitutes for cocaine and amphetamines in scientific studies.

 

7. Children medicated with Ritalin who tried cocaine reported higher

levels of drug dependence than those who had not used Ritalin.

 

8. Ritalin abuse is neither benign or rare in occurrence and is

accurately described as producing severe dependence.

 

9. Sweden removed Ritalin from its market in 1968 because of

widespread abuse.

 

10. More high school seniors were abusing Ritalin than those taking it

medically prescribed.

 

11. Side-effects or Ritalin: increased blood pressure, heart rate,

respirations and temperature; appetite suppression, weight loss,

growth retardation; facial tics, muscle twitching, central nervous

system stimulation, euphoria, nervousness, irritability and agitation,

psychotic episodes, violent behavior, paranoid delusions,

hallucinations, bizarre behaviors, heart arrhythmias, palpitations and

high blood pressure; tolerance and psychological dependence and death.

 

12. Ritalin will affect normal children and adults the same as those

with attention and behavior problems. Effectiveness of Ritalin is not

diagnostic.

 

13. CHADD, non-profit organization, which promotes the use of Ritalin,

also receives a great deal of money from the drug manufacturer of

Ritalin. CHADD does not inform its members of the abuse problems of

Ritalin. CHADD portrays the drug as a benign, mild stimulant that is

not associated with abuse of serious side-effects. Statements by CHADD

are inconsistent with scientific literature.

 

14. The International Narcotics Control Board expressed concern that

CHADD is actively lobbying for the use of Ritalin in children.

 

15. Ritalin is one of the top ten drugs involved in drug thefts and is

being abused by health professionals as well as street addicts.