| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a | | | | and blood pressure, skin rashes and itching, abdominal |
| highly publicized childhood disorder that affects | | | | pain, weight loss, and digestive problems, toxic |
| approximately 5 percent to 7 percent of all children. | | | | psychosis, psychotic episodes, drug dependence |
| Millions of individuals receive prescription drugs for | | | | syndrome, and severe depression upon withdrawal |
| ADHD every year and various central nervous | | | | while long-term effects may include tremors, muscle |
| system (CNS) stimulants like Ritalin & Adderall are | | | | twitching, fevers, convulsions, headaches, irregular |
| frequently prescribed by physicians for ADHD as they | | | | heartbeat, anxiety, hallucinations, and delusions, |
| have a notably calming and "focusing" effect on those | | | | excessive repetition of movements and meaningless |
| with ADHD, particularly children. | | | | tasks, and sensation of bugs or worms crawling under |
| Ritalin, chemically known as Methylphenidate, is a | | | | the skin. |
| stimulant that produces pharmacological effects similar | | | | Users who inject drugs intravenously are at a higher |
| to those of cocaine and amphetamines. As a result, a | | | | risk of contracting viruses such as HIV and hepatitis, |
| growing number of incidents of ADHD prescription | | | | and often suffer from abscesses & collapsed veins as |
| medicine abuse have been associated with teens and | | | | insoluble fillers in the tablets can block the small blood |
| young adults nowadays. Many teens are using it for | | | | vessels. Moreover, excessive doses of Ritalin over a |
| weight reduction since it is a powerful appetite | | | | long period of time can produce addiction & may lead |
| suppressant while others are using it for wakefulness, | | | | to development of tolerance so that larger doses are |
| increased attentiveness, increased focus, & euphoria. | | | | needed to produce the desired effect. |
| When abused, the tablets are either taken orally or | | | | When a child's performance and behavior improve |
| crushed and snorted. Some abusers dissolve the | | | | soon after starting medication, the child, parents, and |
| tablets in water and inject the mixture into the veins. | | | | teachers tend to applaud the drug for causing the |
| Common neurological effects of drug abuse includes | | | | sudden changes. Unfortunately, when people see such |
| impaired memory and learning ability, poor | | | | immediate improvement, they often think medication is |
| concentration, confusion, panic attacks, flashbacks, | | | | all that's needed. But medications don't cure ADHD; |
| impaired motor function, & seizures to name a few. | | | | they only control the symptoms on the day they are |
| Various common physical effects of drug abuse may | | | | taken. Although the medications help the child pay |
| include changes in heart rate and blood pressure, | | | | better attention and complete school work, they can't |
| nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal weight | | | | increase knowledge or improve academic skills. The |
| loss, and increased body temperature, danger to heart, | | | | medications help the child to use those skills he or she |
| liver, kidneys, chest pain, stomach cramps, & hormonal | | | | already possesses. So, behavioral therapy, emotional |
| changes. | | | | counseling, and practical support must be given to |
| Short-term effects can include nervousness and | | | | ADHD children so that they can cope with everyday |
| insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, | | | | problems and feel better about themselves. |
| dizziness, palpitations, headaches, changes in heart rate | | | | |