KISS
In 1990, 900,000 American kids were on Ritalin. Today some estimate the total
number of children on Ritalin has increased to 4 - 5 million or more per year
America now uses 90% of the world's Ritalin - more than five times the rest of
the world combined.
Emergency room visits by children ages 10-14 involving Ritalin intoxication
have now reached the same level as those for cocaine which indicates escalating
abuse of this highly addictive drug.
80% of children on Ritalin are boys.
A growing number of youngsters taking the drug Ritalin® (methylphenidate)
experience overdose, researchers report. The study looked at the frequency of
Ritalin overdose cases reported to a regional poison control center in Detroit.
Children ages 6 to 9 years were at the greatest risk of overdose, compared with
other age groups. Over a two-year period, 289 cases were reported. Of these,
31% developed symptoms. Most common adverse effects included tachycardia,
agitation and lethargy. Most cases were due to parents or caregivers
unintentionally giving patients excessive amounts of the drug.
There has been a six-fold increase in emergency room visits associated to
Ritalin abuse over the past decade, according to the Drug Abuse Warning
Network, which tracks drug abuse data for federal health authorities. There
were 271 Ritalin-related emergency room visits in 1990 and 1,478 visits in
2001.
Worrisome side effects are increased heart rate, hypertension and psychosis,
she said. Ritalin can also have ill effects when mixed with decongestants,
cocaine and amphetamines, and it may also inhibit liver metabolism.
Now a recovered addict, Stone found his Ritalin problem led to even more
serious drug abuse.
"Keep it locked up, keep it safe, keep it out of the way," Stone said. "Because
if your kids aren't using it and abusing it, some of their friends might be."