Ritalin -The Ugliest Drug Marketing Scheme Ever

November 16, 2007

*WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS CALLED "DOPE?" *

* **/*Vital Information About Ritalin, Attention

Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and the Politics Behind the

ADHD/Ritalin Movement*/***

*

* **/Talking Back to Ritalin/ by Peter R. Breggin, M.D. is

published by Common Courage Press, P.O. Box 702, Monroe, Maine

04951. Phone: 1-800-497-3207.*

* *http://www.antipsychiatry.org:80/ritalin.htm

* *Several million children are being treated with Ritalin and

other stimulants on the grounds that they have attention

deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and suffer from

inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. The stimulants

include: Ritalin (methylphenidate), Dexedrine and DextroStat

(dextroamphetamine or d-amphetamine), Adderall (d-amphetamine

and amphetamine mixture), Desoxyn and Gradumet

(methamphetamine), and Cylert (pemoline). Except for Cylert,

all of these drugs have nearly identical effects and side

effects. Ritalin and the amphetamines can for most purposes be

considered one type of drug.*

* *The number of children being drugged has escalated

several-fold in the last few years.*

* *Ritalin and amphetamine have almost identical adverse effects

on the brain, mind and behavior, including the production of

drug-induced behavioral disorders, psychosis, mania, drug

abuse, and addiction.*

* *Ritalin and amphetamine frequently cause the very same

problems they are supposed to treat--inattention,

hyperactivity, and impulsivity.*

* *A large percentage of children become robotic, lethargic,

depressed, or withdrawn on stimulants.*

* *Ritalin can cause permanent neurological tics including

Tourette's syndrome.*

* *Ritalin can retard growth in children by disrupting the

cycles of growth hormone released by the pituitary gland.*

* *The recent finding that Ritalin can cause cancer in some

animals was not taken seriously enough by the drug company or

the FDA.*

* *Ritalin routinely causes gross malfunctions in the brain of

the child. There is research evidence from a few controlled

scientific studies that Ritalin can cause shrinkage (atrophy)

or other permanent physical abnormalities in the brain.*

* *Withdrawal from Ritalin can cause emotional suffering,

including depression, exhaustion, and suicide. This can make

children seem psychiatrically disturbed and lead mistakenly to

increased doses of medication.*

* *Ritalin is addictive and can become a gateway drug to other

addictions. It is a common drug of abuse among children and

adults.*

* *ADHD and Ritalin are American and Canadian medical fads. The

U.S. uses 90% of the world's Ritalin. CibaGeneva

Pharmaceuticals (also known as Ciba-Geigy Corporation), a

division of Novartis, is the manufacturer of Ritalin. It is

trying to expand the Ritalin market to Europe and the rest of

the world.*

* *Ritalin "works" by producing malfunctions in the brain rather

than by improving brain function. This is the /only /way it

works.*

* *Short-term, Ritalin suppresses creative, spontaneous and

autonomous activity in children, making them more docile and

obedient, and more willing to comply with rote, boring tasks,

such as classroom school work and homework.*

* *Short-term, Ritalin has no positive effect on a child's

psychology or on academic performance and achievement. This is

confirmed by innumerable studies and by many professional

reviews of the literature.*

* *Longer-term, beyond several weeks, Ritalin has no positive

effects on any aspect of a child's life.*

* *Labeling children with ADHD and treating them with Ritalin

can keep them out of the armed services, limit their future

career choices, and stigmatize them for life. It can ruin

their own self image, subtly demoralize them, and discourage

them from reaching their full potential.*

* *There is no solid evidence that ADHD is a genuine disorder or

disease of any kind.*

* *There is a great deal of research to confirm that

environmental problems cause ADHD-like symptoms.*

* *A very small number of children may suffer ADHD-like symptoms

because of physical disorders, such as lead poisoning, drug

intoxication, exhaustion, and head injury. Physical causes may

be more common among poor communities in the United States.*

* *There is no proof of any physical abnormalities in the brains

or bodies of children who are routinely labeled ADHD. They do

not have known biochemical imbalances or "crossed wires."*

* *ADHD is a controversial diagnosis with little or no

scientific or medical basis. A parent, teacher, or doctor can

feel in good company when utterly dismissing the diagnosis and

refusing to apply it to children.*

* *Ciba spends millions of dollars to sell parent groups and

doctors on the idea of using Ritalin. Ciba helps to support

the parent group, CH.A.D.D., and organized psychiatry.*

* *The U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute

of Mental Health (NIMH) push Ritalin as vigorously as the

manufacturer of the drug, often in even more glowing terms

than the drug company could get away with legally.*

*Our society has institutionalized drug abuse among our children.

Worse yet, we abuse our children with drugs rather than making the

effort to find better ways to meet their needs. In the long run, we

are giving our children a very bad lesson--that drugs are the answer

to emotional problems. We are encouraging a generation of youngsters

to grow up relying on psychiatric drugs rather than on themselves

and other human resources.*

*The material in this summary is documented with citations to

scientific literature in /Talking Back to Ritalin/. The book also

describes non-drug approaches to helping children diagnosed ADHD

through identifying and meeting the basic needs of children, and

through improvements in school and family life.*

* If you want to support efforts to stop the psychiatric drugging of

children, and to receive a newsletter, we invite you to join the

International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology,

4628 Chestnut Street, Bethesda, MD, 20814. Visit our web site at

www.breggin.com < http://www.breggin.com/> .*

November 27, 2007

I must disagree........I would have been MUCH better off if I had been given ritalin as a youth .I am 54 now and not bad off, had I tamed my raging brain earlier I would likey be in a better place. I take adderall now for work purposes, out of work at this moment I take it when I need to focus. And I am like I was years ago,focus is out of syncRaven <NWRaven wrote: *WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS CALLED "DOPE?" * * **/*Vital Information About Ritalin, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and the Politics Behind the ADHD/Ritalin Movement*/*** * * **/Talking Back to Ritalin/ by Peter R. Breggin, M.D. is published by Common Courage Press, P.O. Box 702, Monroe, Maine 04951. Phone: 1-800-497-3207.* * *http://www.antipsychiatry.org:80/ritalin.htm * *Several million children are being treated with Ritalin and other stimulants on the grounds that they have attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and suffer from inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. The stimulants include: Ritalin (methylphenidate), Dexedrine and DextroStat (dextroamphetamine or d-amphetamine), Adderall (d-amphetamine and amphetamine mixture), Desoxyn and Gradumet (methamphetamine), and Cylert (pemoline). Except for Cylert, all of these drugs have nearly identical effects and side effects. Ritalin and the amphetamines can for most purposes be considered one type of drug.* * *The number of children being drugged has escalated several-fold in the last few years.* * *Ritalin and amphetamine have almost identical adverse effects on the brain, mind and behavior, including the production of drug-induced behavioral disorders, psychosis, mania, drug abuse, and addiction.* * *Ritalin and amphetamine frequently cause the very same problems they are supposed to treat--inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.* * *A large percentage of children become robotic, lethargic, depressed, or withdrawn on stimulants.* * *Ritalin can cause permanent neurological tics including Tourette's syndrome.* * *Ritalin can retard growth in children by disrupting the cycles of growth hormone released by the pituitary gland.* * *The recent finding that Ritalin can cause cancer in some animals was not taken seriously enough by the drug company or the FDA.* * *Ritalin routinely causes gross malfunctions in the brain of the child. There is research evidence from a few controlled scientific studies that Ritalin can cause shrinkage (atrophy) or other permanent physical abnormalities in the brain.* * *Withdrawal from Ritalin can cause emotional suffering, including depression, exhaustion, and suicide. This can make children seem psychiatrically disturbed and lead mistakenly to increased doses of medication.* * *Ritalin is addictive and can become a gateway drug to other addictions. It is a common drug of abuse among children and adults.* * *ADHD and Ritalin are American and Canadian medical fads. The U.S. uses 90% of the world's Ritalin. CibaGeneva Pharmaceuticals (also known as Ciba-Geigy Corporation), a division of Novartis, is the manufacturer of Ritalin. It is trying to expand the Ritalin market to Europe and the rest of the world.* * *Ritalin "works" by producing malfunctions in the brain rather than by improving brain function. This is the /only /way it works.* * *Short-term, Ritalin suppresses creative, spontaneous and autonomous activity in children, making them more docile and obedient, and more willing to comply with rote, boring tasks, such as classroom school work and homework.* * *Short-term, Ritalin has no positive effect on a child's psychology or on academic performance and achievement. This is confirmed by innumerable studies and by many professional reviews of the literature.* * *Longer-term, beyond several weeks, Ritalin has no positive effects on any aspect of a child's life.* * *Labeling children with ADHD and treating them with Ritalin can keep them out of the armed services, limit their future career choices, and stigmatize them for life. It can ruin their own self image, subtly demoralize them, and discourage them from reaching their full potential.* * *There is no solid evidence that ADHD is a genuine disorder or disease of any kind.* * *There is a great deal of research to confirm that environmental problems cause ADHD-like symptoms.* * *A very small number of children may suffer ADHD-like symptoms because of physical disorders, such as lead poisoning, drug intoxication, exhaustion, and head injury. Physical causes may be more common among poor communities in the United States.* * *There is no proof of any physical abnormalities in the brains or bodies of children who are routinely labeled ADHD. They do not have known biochemical imbalances or "crossed wires."* * *ADHD is a controversial diagnosis with little or no scientific or medical basis. A parent, teacher, or doctor can feel in good company when utterly dismissing the diagnosis and refusing to apply it to children.* * *Ciba spends millions of dollars to sell parent groups and doctors on the idea of using Ritalin. Ciba helps to support the parent group, CH.A.D.D., and organized psychiatry.* * *The U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) push Ritalin as vigorously as the manufacturer of the drug, often in even more glowing terms than the drug company could get away with legally.* *Our society has institutionalized drug abuse among our children. Worse yet, we abuse our children with drugs rather than making the effort to find better ways to meet their needs. In the long run, we are giving our children a very bad lesson--that drugs are the answer to emotional problems. We are encouraging a generation of youngsters to grow up relying on psychiatric drugs rather than on themselves and other human resources.* *The material in this summary is documented with citations to scientific literature in /Talking Back to Ritalin/. The book also describes non-drug approaches to helping children diagnosed ADHD through identifying and meeting the basic needs of children, and through improvements in school and family life.* * If you want to support efforts to stop the psychiatric drugging of children, and to receive a newsletter, we invite you to join the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, 4628 Chestnut Street, Bethesda, MD, 20814. Visit our web site at www.breggin.com < http://www.breggin.com/> .*

Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Mobile. Try it now.

November 27, 2007

I agree that if yor brain would have been "tamer" at a younger age, it may have helped a lot. However, I think what you are not understanding is that the Ritalin is not a solution. The solution is balancing brain chemistry and detoxing heavy metals and other neurotoxins and allergens, and that sorts of things that actually effect a cure. Unfortunately, you won't get this sort of help form most medical doctors..........<big sigh>~Inga=====================================================================On Nov 27, 2007, at 7:29 AM, doug brush wrote:I must disagree........I would have been MUCH better off if I had been given ritalin as a youth .I am 54 now and not bad off, had I tamed my raging brain earlier I would likey be in a better place. I take adderall now for work purposes, out of work at this moment I take it when I need to focus. And I am like I was years ago,focus is out of syncRaven <NWRaven > wrote:.

November 27, 2007

Herbal Info as an Alternative to Ritalin/Prozac which is a common denominator in

Postal Shootings, Columbine, and other massacres!

http://cleanse-nourish-heal.org/newsletters/ADD_ADHD.html

I must disagree........I would have been MUCH better off if I had been given ritalin as a youth .I am 54 now and not bad off, had I tamed my raging brain earlier I would likey be in a better place. I take adderall now for work purposes, out of work at this moment I take it when I need to focus. And I am like I was years ago,focus is out of syncRaven <NWRaven > wrote: *WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS CALLED "DOPE?" * * **/*Vital Information About Ritalin, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and the Politics Behind the ADHD/Ritalin Movement*/*** * * **/Talking Back to Ritalin/ by Peter R. Breggin, M.D. is published by Common Courage Press, P.O. Box 702, Monroe, Maine 04951. Phone: 1-800-497-3207.* * *http://www.antipsychiatry.org:80/ritalin.htm * *Several million children are being treated with Ritalin and other stimulants on the grounds that they have attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and suffer from inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. The stimulants include: Ritalin (methylphenidate), Dexedrine and DextroStat (dextroamphetamine or d-amphetamine), Adderall (d-amphetamine and amphetamine mixture), Desoxyn and Gradumet (methamphetamine), and Cylert (pemoline). Except for Cylert, all of these drugs have nearly identical effects and side effects. Ritalin and the amphetamines can for most purposes be considered one type of drug.* * *The number of children being drugged has escalated several-fold in the last few years.* * *Ritalin and amphetamine have almost identical adverse effects on the brain, mind and behavior, including the production of drug-induced behavioral disorders, psychosis, mania, drug abuse, and addiction.* * *Ritalin and amphetamine frequently cause the very same problems they are supposed to treat--inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.* * *A large percentage of children become robotic, lethargic, depressed, or withdrawn on stimulants.* * *Ritalin can cause permanent neurological tics including Tourette's syndrome.* * *Ritalin can retard growth in children by disrupting the cycles of growth hormone released by the pituitary gland.* * *The recent finding that Ritalin can cause cancer in some animals was not taken seriously enough by the drug company or the FDA.* * *Ritalin routinely causes gross malfunctions in the brain of the child. There is research evidence from a few controlled scientific studies that Ritalin can cause shrinkage (atrophy) or other permanent physical abnormalities in the brain.* * *Withdrawal from Ritalin can cause emotional suffering, including depression, exhaustion, and suicide. This can make children seem psychiatrically disturbed and lead mistakenly to increased doses of medication.* * *Ritalin is addictive and can become a gateway drug to other addictions. It is a common drug of abuse among children and adults.* * *ADHD and Ritalin are American and Canadian medical fads. The U.S. uses 90% of the world's Ritalin. CibaGeneva Pharmaceuticals (also known as Ciba-Geigy Corporation), a division of Novartis, is the manufacturer of Ritalin. It is trying to expand the Ritalin market to Europe and the rest of the world.* * *Ritalin "works" by producing malfunctions in the brain rather than by improving brain function. This is the /only /way it works.* * *Short-term, Ritalin suppresses creative, spontaneous and autonomous activity in children, making them more docile and obedient, and more willing to comply with rote, boring tasks, such as classroom school work and homework.* * *Short-term, Ritalin has no positive effect on a child's psychology or on academic performance and achievement. This is confirmed by innumerable studies and by many professional reviews of the literature.* * *Longer-term, beyond several weeks, Ritalin has no positive effects on any aspect of a child's life.* * *Labeling children with ADHD and treating them with Ritalin can keep them out of the armed services, limit their future career choices, and stigmatize them for life. It can ruin their own self image, subtly demoralize them, and discourage them from reaching their full potential.* * *There is no solid evidence that ADHD is a genuine disorder or disease of any kind.* * *There is a great deal of research to confirm that environmental problems cause ADHD-like symptoms.* * *A very small number of children may suffer ADHD-like symptoms because of physical disorders, such as lead poisoning, drug intoxication, exhaustion, and head injury. Physical causes may be more common among poor communities in the United States.* * *There is no proof of any physical abnormalities in the brains or bodies of children who are routinely labeled ADHD. They do not have known biochemical imbalances or "crossed wires."* * *ADHD is a controversial diagnosis with little or no scientific or medical basis. A parent, teacher, or doctor can feel in good company when utterly dismissing the diagnosis and refusing to apply it to children.* * *Ciba spends millions of dollars to sell parent groups and doctors on the idea of using Ritalin. Ciba helps to support the parent group, CH.A.D.D., and organized psychiatry.* * *The U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) push Ritalin as vigorously as the manufacturer of the drug, often in even more glowing terms than the drug company could get away with legally.* *Our society has institutionalized drug abuse among our children. Worse yet, we abuse our children with drugs rather than making the effort to find better ways to meet their needs. In the long run, we are giving our children a very bad lesson--that drugs are the answer to emotional problems. We are encouraging a generation of youngsters to grow up relying on psychiatric drugs rather than on themselves and other human resources.* *The material in this summary is documented with citations to scientific literature in /Talking Back to Ritalin/. The book also describes non-drug approaches to helping children diagnosed ADHD through identifying and meeting the basic needs of children, and through improvements in school and family life.* * If you want to support efforts to stop the psychiatric drugging of children, and to receive a newsletter, we invite you to join the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, 4628 Chestnut Street, Bethesda, MD, 20814. Visit our web site at www.breggin.com < http://www.breggin.com/> .*

Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Mobile. Try it now.

November 28, 2007

ADHD also runs through my family. the old, doesn't apply herself,

with that IQ, etc. but, I am doing exactly what I wanted to, as an

adult, and as a phsycologist once said, when were were in therapy

with older adopted children...somehow, you've learned to adapt...

I took those kids off drugs, and dealt with them as normal. and

they managed. when my biological son came along, and had/has

the exact tendencies as me, I homeschooled him. it's my job as

a parent to raise him, and not drug him. he's 15 now, and somedays,

still drives me insane. (what teen doesn't). and typical, when he's

interested, he can focus with bulldog tenacity, when he's not,

wild horses couldn't drag him to it. at 13, he worked at a theatre,

building sets, etc. his reference letters he was given, at this age,

were fantastic...follows directions well, very mature for age, etc.

he performs, he takes dance, voice, piano, choir outside...shows

dogs, competes in conformation, Jr handling and obedience,

with dogs he trains, jumps horses. this year, he was in 3 major

productions locally, and 3 smaller productions. one of the adult

leads (yes, he has lead roles, often) told me that he was adhd,

and did not have the focus of my son at that age...he was stunned

when I told him my son would have been labeled if I sent him to

school, when younger. but, why hang a kid with that excuse for the

rest of their life. I didn't have it. I suffered the consequences and

so does my son. yes, we can get easily distracted, bored, etc.

but, no personality or person is alike, that's what makes the world

go around. my husband married me, and has lived with me for

the past 23 yrs, for a reason. maybe it's so he's never bored, or

maybe he's dumb. <joking> lol

here's my options...and I've done it with very dysfunctional, older,

physically, mentally abused, possible sexual, too. behaviour

disorder, learning disorder, possible autism spectrum, failure

to thrive kids. took them off drugs, and dealt with them...even

brought one's iq up, nearly 20 pts, with homeschooling. unfortunately,

there was too much damage, long before we got them, to completely

turn them around.... no drugs, teach to cope. allow to mature at their

own rate, set up systems to work...

or other option, drugs with very serious side affects, including death.

and now they know those have to continue drugs into adulthood.

I don't feel sorry for myself, for choices I made when younger. guilt,

sometimes, as one should for bad things.lol I look forward, not

back, and it's between me & my Maker. I don't blame my parents...

as my Mom has said, we didn't know about homeschooling, never

occurred to us, or we would have done it. my Dad laughs when he

watches my son, and says, God has a sense of humor!! (it came

from him. lol) in our family, these traits are appreciated, and dealt

with. I always made sure my son had/has physical things to do.

chores before sitting down for schoolwork, when younger, even

just going outside and running around. when I find him sitting

staring into space, instead of working, out he goes to do chores.

physical work. it helps the body slow down, which helps the mind

settle down.

It was once said about me, of course hyper children would not be an

issue for her...she would think it normal. lol

Theresa

Bob, Theresa & Benjamin WegnerNovelty FarmSt James MO

www.noveltyfarm.com

November 28, 2007

St. James? Nice little town. I would suggest a blood test and nutritional

treatment from Kissinger Clinic in Rolla, Mo, just about 10 miles from

you. You could use the test as a basis for finding out where you are, and

then take nutrition from that. They also do chelation i.v.'s there. Nice

office. I've been there.

jp