A mother hadn’t noticed any positive change in her son since he had begun taking Ritalin^®, so she put him on a placebo instead.

Ritalin, a “psycho-affective stimulant,” is chemically similar to benzedrine (“speed”.) According to the Physician’s Desk Reference on Prescription Drugs^TM, it is classified as a “mild central nervous system stimulant,” and it states “there is neither specific evidence which clearly establishes the mechanism whereby Ritalin produces its mental and behavioral effects in children, nor conclusive evidence regarding how these conditions relate to the central nervous system.”

However, even though this supporting evidence doesn’t exist, 7.5% of all school-age children are put on Ritalin.

In addition to various side effects, Ritalin causes 28 additional problems, including failure to grow, high blood pressure, irritability, psychotic reactions, withdrawal symptoms, seizures and lethargy.

Due to these problems, the PDRsuggests Ritalin users take “drug holidays,” over weekends, school breaks and “challenges” — breaks to see if the drug is still necessary. The purpose of this recommendation is to control side effects. But, most physicians don’t build these “holidays” into their prescription regimen.

According to an admission in the U.S. Department of Education’s official research digest, “Studies to determine if treated children actually learn more have generally been discouraging.”
In cases where Ritalin use does show some effect, it is serving the interest of the teachers and school system, not the need of the children; it may improve behavior, but does not affect the childrens’ ability to learn.

SOURCE: “Ritalin Abuse: The Chemical Dependency of Inadequate Schools,” John R. Woodward, M.S.W.,
Center for Independent Living of North Florida, Inc., www.ritalin.doc.