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Ritalin
Use
by
Andrew D. Carson, Ph.D.
Ritalin (methylphenidate) is essentially a diluted, prescription-strength version of the street drug Speed. It is among the most widely prescribed medications and is used in the maintenance treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is reported that 3%-5% of all children in the United States are receiving methylphenidate to control ADHD symptoms, and that 85%-90% of methylphenidate prescriptions are written for children and adolescents (see Adverse Effects). Approximately 90% of the world's supply of Methylphenidate is manufactured and consumed in the United States (Carter & Winseman, 2001/2001).
Methylphenidate is a stimulant, and apparently helps individuals with ADHD to calm and focus themselves to better accomplish academic and vocational tasks, and therefore has a clear and presumably beneficial vocational effect for adult workers with ADHD. However, because it is a stimulant, it carries the potential for abuse, e.g., through theft of Ritalin pills and their use (in crushed form) to get "high." It also seems likely that, believing that methylphenidate may given every user some competitive edge in thinking, at least some adults take methylphenidate without prescription in order to (they hope) complete work tasks more successfully. Unfortunately, when taken by individuals without ADHD, methylphenidate may serve to function much like street speed, producing manic symptoms, and possibly paranoia. Such workers may be at increased risk for engaging in workplace violence or other aggressive or dysfunctional activities at work.
Links:
Ritalin
Dexedrine and Cylert (from NewIdeas.net),
Novartis,
the giant pharmaceutical company that manufactures Ritalin. Good luck
finding much info about Ritalin on the public section of the site: There
was only one mention when I last searched.
Treatments
that use Ritalin (Children and Adults with ADD/ADHD, from CHADD)
ADHD
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (from Encyclopedia.com)
Increase
in Ritalin abuse by college students and workers (CNN.com)
The United States military may
bar those with histories of Ritalin use from service (article reported
from Cox News Service, posted to the site of the National Foundation for
Gifted and Creative Children); other sites suggest this is only for use
after the age of 12, but I cannot confirm this through military sources,
or at least that this policy is still in place.
References to citations in the text.
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Updated March 16, 2008
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