| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a | | | | to prepare for exams as it has been suggested to |
| contentious disorder that is believed to be a | | | | help students maintain abnormally high levels of |
| developmental disorder that is largely neurological in | | | | concentration. It is believed to be even more effective |
| nature. It is known to affect around 5 percent to 7 | | | | than mega-doses of caffeine for keeping them awake |
| percent of all children in the United States, sixty | | | | and on task. Apparently, it is popular by various street |
| percent of which are known to retain it in the | | | | names viz. vitamin R & cramming drug! It is sadly ironic |
| adulthood. There are several clinically proven effective | | | | that many young people who start using Ritalin this |
| options available to treat people diagnosed with ADHD | | | | way are actually good kids and excellent students. |
| and Ritalin is one such medication which is asserted to | | | | Because so many of them are juggling more than |
| treat ADHD most effectively, and cost efficiently. | | | | they can really handle, some of them succumb to |
| In recent years, Ritalin has become one of the | | | | temptation of getting something to help them study for |
| frequently abused prescription drugs. The United | | | | a final or finish a major project. But then a few weeks |
| States Drug Enforcement Administration classifies | | | | later, more exams, term papers, and projects loom |
| Ritalin as a schedule II drug i.e. a substance with a large | | | | overwhelmingly on the horizon. So they resort once |
| potential for misuse as it is a CNS stimulant that | | | | more to their "study aid" that helped them ace their |
| produces pharmacological effects similar to those of | | | | work the last time & this is how it starts… |
| cocaine and amphetamines. As a result, a growing | | | | ADHD Prescription medicine drugs are abused for their |
| number of incidents of ADHD prescription drug abuse, | | | | stimulant effects like appetite suppression, |
| associated with all age groups, are being reported | | | | wakefulness, increased focus/attentiveness, and |
| nowadays. According to a survey of Texas university | | | | euphoria. Ritalin is so cheap and so easy to get hold of |
| students in 1997, almost 1.5 percent of students had | | | | that a highly profitable illegal resale market has sprung |
| misused Ritalin during the past year and 2 percent had | | | | up around it. Some kids in middle school, high school, |
| done so at some point in their lives. A 1998 survey of | | | | and college have taken to buying the pills at an inflated, |
| students at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, | | | | but still quite manageable, price. |
| presented yet another peep into this disturbing trend | | | | Excessive doses of Ritalin over a long period of time |
| when it concluded that 20 percent of the students had | | | | can produce addiction. It is also possible to develop |
| illegally taken Ritalin or a similar drug at least once in | | | | tolerance to the drug, so that larger doses are needed |
| their lives. | | | | to produce the original effect. Addiction to Ritalin |
| Ritalin is also occasionally used in adults to treat | | | | seems to occur when it induces rapid increases of |
| narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by sudden | | | | dopamine in the brain. So instead of excessive use of |
| and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep. So it is quite | | | | drugs, behavioral therapy, emotional counseling, and |
| famous for its stimulant effects & that are exactly | | | | practical support must be given to ADHD children so |
| what college students need! | | | | that they can cope with everyday problems and feel |
| As a result, an increasing proportion of college | | | | better about themselves instead of getting dependent |
| students are taking up Ritalin to wake up till wee hours | | | | on drugs! |