Ritalin: The Real Gateway Drug

By K. Cole - March 27, 2007

 

Methylphenidate, or more commonly known as Ritalin, is the most commonly prescribed treatment for children diagnosed with ADHD. It is prescribed to 3-7% of all elementary school children. MTF 2005 data on the annual illicit use of Ritalin indicated that it was used by 2.4 percent of 8th-graders, 3.4 percent of 10th-graders, and 4.4 percent of 12th-graders [1].

 

Forms of Methylphenidate:

Ritalin: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets;
Ritalin SR: 20 mg tablets;
Ritalin LA: 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg capsules;
Attenta: 10mg tablets;
Methylin: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets;
Methylin ER: 10 mg and 20 mg tablets;
Metadate ER: 10 mg and 20 mg tablets;
Metadate CD: 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, and 60 mg capsules;
Concerta: 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, 54 mg, and 72 mg tablets;
Equasym: 5 mg and 10 mg tablets;
Rubifen: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets;
Daytrana: 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg patches

 

Ritalin is Very Similar to Cocaine

Ritalin and Cocaine are both Schedule II controlled Substances in the United States. They have similar chemical structures, stimulant effects, and addictive properties. They both work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain.

Ritalin and Cocaine block the natural reuptake process of dopamine at the synapse causing the synaptic cleft in between two neurons to be overfilled with dopamine.

Allegorically, this process can be simplified and compared to a bathroom sink. Imagine that there is a faucet pouring water (dopamine) in to the sink (synaptic cleft). There are naturally two ways for the water to exit the sink, either by the main drain or by flowing over the side when there is too much water for the main drain to handle. These drugs block the side overflow so that the main drain has no option but to drain out all of the water. The main drain will expand and adjust to the new rate of water (dopamine) flow.

 

Will taking Ritalin during childhood change how the brain develops?

Babies who were regularly exposed to cocaine before birth may score lower than unexposed babies on tests given at birth to assess the newborn’s physical condition and overall responsiveness. They may not do as well as unexposed babies on measures of motor ability, reflexes, attention and mood control, and they appear less likely to respond to a human face or voice. As newborns, some are jittery and irritable, and they may startle and cry at the gentlest touch or sound. Therefore, these babies may be difficult to comfort and may be described as withdrawn or unresponsive. Other cocaine-exposed babies “turn off” surrounding stimuli by going into a deep sleep for most of the day. A 2002 study at Case Western Reserve University found that cocaine-exposed 2-year-olds were twice as likely as unexposed children from similar low socioeconomic backgrounds to have significant delays in mental development (14 percent and 7 percent, respectively) [3].

The human brain continues to grow until around the age of thirty years old. It is foolish to believe that because a drug, like Ritalin, is prescribed by a doctor it is safe. And it is stupid to think that because a drug is socially, politically, and medically accepted that it is not dangerous and that it is not damaging.

It is common sense that crack-babies have had a bad start in life; and that mothers shouldn’t take “drugs” when they are carrying developing fetuses. It is also common knowledge that it is unhealthy for children to take cocaine. This is why the U.S. Government has made cocaine a Schedule II controlled substance. We all remember the government sponsored anti-drug commercials with an egg cracking in a pan, and an actor saying that "this is your brain, and this is your brain on drugs." We all know that it is against the law for a mother to give her ten year old a line of cocaine. If she gets caught doing so, she will have her children taken away by child welfare authorities, and then she will go to prison for at least fifteen years (triple the normal mandatory minimum sentence because the child was under eighteen). Then why does our government allow parents and doctors to put young children on stimulant ADHD drugs? Why isn't our government protecting us? Isn't that what the drug war was supposed to be about?

 

Most people are raised to believe that using a drug, if it is prescribed by a doctor, is "okay."

The pharmaceutical industry has spent millions of dollars on commercials highlighting the positive effects of psychiatric drug use; they make these drugs look totally beneficial for people. Their pro-drug ads show people that are happy, out of pain, enjoying life, and relaxing. They conveniently leave out the part about the side effects, addictive potential, and withdrawal.

The pro-drug ads are a total about face from the anti-drug commercials funded by our tax dollars. The anti-drug ads only show the negatives of illegal drug use; they only show the side effects, addictive potential, and withdrawal.

This stark contrast has caused our society to have a distorted perception of what drugs really are. This lack of real, unbiased education is the reason most people still have the scewed belief that what a doctor prescribes is healthy for you, and that prescription drugs are not at all like illegal drugs. News flash! Methamphetamine is available by prescription! It is sold under the name Desoxyn, and is prescribed for children diagnosed with ADHD starting at the age of six. So now that it is repackaged and sold by a pharmaceutical company it is good to give children meth? That's not what those anti-drug commercials said; that's not what the U. S. law says. Oh, I forgot, if a drug like methamphetamine is given a name that no one will recognize and then prescribed by a doctor it is "okay."

 

Are we causing Children to grow up wired for life long drug use?

2003 Samhsa Report [4] on the Statistics of drug use :

14.7% of People in the United States have used Cocaine at least once in their lifetime

20.1% of People in the United States have used a Psychotherapeutic illegally (without a prescription)

8.8% of People in the United States have used Stimulants at least once in their lifetime

 

 

References:

[1] http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Ritalin.html Each year, MTF assesses the extent of drug use among adolescents and young adults nationwide. MTF 2005 data on annual** use indicate that 2.4 percent of 8th-graders used Ritalin, as did 3.4 percent of 10th-graders and 4.4 percent of 12th-graders.

[2] www.novartis.com

[3] http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1169.asp

[4] http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NHSDA/2k3NSDUH/appg.htm