Sommaire
MAIN TYPE
Ritalin belongs to the category of stimulants. It is the brand name for methylphenidate, a drug most often given to children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). As a stimulant, it is also sometimes prescribed for narcolepsy, a condition that causes excessive sleep.
Ritalin comes in the form of pills or tablets marked “Ciba”. This is the name of the manufacturer, the pharmaceutical company formerly known as Ciba-Geigy, which is now called Novartis.
This drug works by stimulating the central nervous system, in the same way as other stimulants such as amphetamine, although the effect of Ritalin is much less powerful. In children with ADHD, Ritalin has a calming effect and helps them focus on their tasks.
Synthesized in 1944, Ritalin was first tested on humans in 1954. The initial purpose of the drug was to treat chronic fatigue, narcolepsy and the psychotic effects of depression, as well as to combat the sedative effect of other prescribed drugs. In the 1960s, Ritalin was used to treat the symptoms of barbiturate overdose. Research into the use of Ritalin for ADHD began in the 1960s, when the disorder was called “hyperkinetic syndrome.” In the 1970s and 1980s, the drug was most widely prescribed for this purpose.
In the amounts generally prescribed, professionals agree that the drug is not addictive and has important therapeutic benefits. Nevertheless, Ritalin is controversial because some believe it is being abused by children who are simply disobedient and not taking the drug for a specific condition. Others claim that as a stimulant, Ritalin can strain the heart. When used recreationally or by people without a prescription, this drug can be very harmful. The first reason is that the doses consumed by these users are much higher than those prescribed in a medical setting, and the second is related to the method of taking it (crushing the pills and inhaling them like cocaine, or mixing them with a liquid and injecting them intravenously). Ritalin is water soluble, making it easy to inject intravenously.
Users who get “high” on this drug are at high risk of psychological dependence as well as significant physical damage that can lead to heart problems and psychosis.
OTHER TYPES
Ritalin belongs to the category of stimulants. It is the brand name for methylphenidate, a medication most often given to children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). As a stimulant, it is also sometimes prescribed for narcolepsy, a condition that causes excessive sleep.
Ritalin comes in the form of pills or tablets marked “Ciba”. This is the name of the manufacturer, the pharmaceutical company formerly known as Ciba-Geigy, which is now called Novartis.
This drug works by stimulating the central nervous system, in the same way as other stimulants such as amphetamine, although the effect of Ritalin is much less powerful. In children with ADHD, Ritalin has a calming effect and helps them focus on their tasks.
Synthesized in 1944, Ritalin was first tested on humans in 1954. The initial purpose of the drug was to treat chronic fatigue, narcolepsy and the psychotic effects of depression, as well as to combat the sedative effect of other prescribed drugs. In the 1960s, Ritalin was used to treat the symptoms of barbiturate overdose. Research into the use of Ritalin for ADHD began in the 1960s, when the disorder was called “hyperkinetic syndrome.” In the 1970s and 1980s, the drug was most widely prescribed for this purpose.
In the amounts generally prescribed, professionals agree that the drug is not addictive and has important therapeutic benefits. Nevertheless, Ritalin is controversial because some believe it is being abused by children who are simply disobedient and not taking the drug for a specific condition. Others claim that as a stimulant, Ritalin can strain the heart. When used recreationally or by people without a prescription, this drug can be very harmful. The first reason is that the doses consumed by these users are much higher than those prescribed in a medical setting, and the second is related to the method of taking it (crushing the pills and inhaling them like cocaine, or mixing them with a liquid and injecting them intravenously). Ritalin is water soluble, making it easy to inject intravenously.
Users who get “high” on this drug are at high risk of psychological dependence as well as significant physical damage that can lead to heart problems and psychosis.
MAIN EFFECTS
Ritalin belongs to the category of stimulants. It is the brand name for methylphenidate, a drug most often given to children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). As a stimulant, it is also sometimes prescribed for narcolepsy, a condition that causes excessive sleep.
Ritalin comes in the form of pills or tablets marked “Ciba”. This is the name of the manufacturer, the pharmaceutical company formerly known as Ciba-Geigy, which is now called Novartis.
This drug works by stimulating the central nervous system, in the same way as other stimulants such as amphetamine, although the effect of Ritalin is much less powerful. In children with ADHD, Ritalin has a calming effect and helps them focus on their tasks.
Synthesized in 1944, Ritalin was first tested on humans in 1954. The initial purpose of the drug was to treat chronic fatigue, narcolepsy and the psychotic effects of depression, as well as to combat the sedative effect of other prescribed drugs. In the 1960s, Ritalin was used to treat the symptoms of barbiturate overdose. Research into the use of Ritalin for ADHD began in the 1960s, when the disorder was called “hyperkinetic syndrome.” In the 1970s and 1980s, the drug was most widely prescribed for this purpose.
In the amounts generally prescribed, professionals agree that the drug is not addictive and has important therapeutic benefits. Nevertheless, Ritalin is controversial because some believe it is being abused by children who are simply disobedient and not taking the drug for a specific condition. Others claim that as a stimulant, Ritalin can strain the heart. When used recreationally or by people without a prescription, this drug can be very harmful. The first reason is that the doses consumed by these users are much higher than those prescribed in a medical setting, and the second is related to the method of taking it (crushing the pills and inhaling them like cocaine, or mixing them with a liquid and injecting them intravenously). Ritalin is water soluble, making it easy to inject intravenously.
Users who get “high” on this drug are at high risk of psychological dependence as well as significant physical damage that can lead to heart problems and psychosis.
PRODUCING COUNTRIES
The United Nations recently estimated that the United States produces and consumes about 85% of the world’s Ritalin production.
The drug is produced by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, formerly known as Ciba-Geigy Corporation. This company was formed in 1970 through the merger of two pharmaceutical companies, Ciba and R.J. Geigy. The company’s name was shortened to Ciba in 1992 and then became Novartis when Ciba merged with another Swiss pharmaceutical company, Sandoz.
Novartis is one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world. It has plants around the world, including much of Europe and the United States. Together with its affiliates in nearly 140 countries, it develops and manufactures a wide range of prescription and non-prescription medicines, insecticides, herbicides and veterinary products. Company figures show that nearly 50% of its annual revenues come from the United States.
Ritalin production is regulated in the United States: as a Schedule II controlled substance, it is subject to strict quotas.
Ritalin would not be manufactured illicitly on the street. All recreational use has been diverted from legal sources, i.e., acquired from individuals with a legitimate prescription to treat a medical condition. In some cases, illicit users obtain the drug from family members or friends. In other cases, those with a prescription sell their supply. The drug is also stolen from individuals or storage sites, including school pharmacies. Of all the medications, Ritalin is one of the most stolen.
FACTS AND STATISTICS
FACTS
“Ritalin” is the name under which methylphenidate is most commonly marketed. This medication is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) When used recreationally, Ritalin has a similar effect to other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine. Here is some basic information about the drug:
- Ritalin is the commercial form of methylphenidate.
- All Ritalin pills carry the manufacturer’s name, “Ciba.”
- This drug is very popular in the United States, which accounts for about 85% of production and consumption.
- Ritalin helps children with ADHD by calming their hyperactivity and allowing them to better focus on their tasks.
- Ritalin is the subject of ongoing debate, as some believe that it is being abused by children who do not medically need it.
- Ritalin is one of the most stolen prescription drugs for illicit use.
- According to experts, all recreational use products are legitimately manufactured and then diverted.
- The drug comes in the form of pills of various doses, which are taken orally. Illicit users may crush the pills and inhale the powder or dissolve it in water and inject it.
- Heavy users of Ritalin are at risk of serious physical and mental consequences, including headaches, nausea, seizures and death.
- Long-term use can create a psychological dependence on the drug.
It can also permanently damage organs and lead to seizures, heart attacks and death.
STATISTICS
- In the United States, 186 deaths related to methylphenidate abuse were reported to the country’s voluntary reporting system between 1990 and 2000. It is estimated that these numbers represent about 20% of the reality.
- According to a 2007 study, 3.8% of Americans aged 16-17 admitted to using Ritalin without a prescription at least once in the past year.
- In the United States, the number of prescriptions for stimulants, including Ritalin, increased from about five million in 1991 to nearly 35 million in 2007.
- It is estimated that in some U.S. schools, up to 20% of students are taking Ritalin on a regular basis.
- Ritalin use was responsible for approximately 3,600 emergency room admissions in 2004, compared to only 271 in 1990.
- Of all the countries in the world, the United States continues to have the highest rate of ADHD diagnosis and Ritalin prescription.
- It is estimated that 1.5 million American children take Ritalin every day.
- In the United States, Ritalin use is five times higher than in the rest of the world.
- In the United Kingdom, the rate of Ritalin prescription varies widely across the country.
- In 2008, for example, in the Wirral region, Ritalin or similar stimulants were prescribed to one in seven children compared to one in 159 in Stoke-on-Trent.
- In 2007, about 700,000 prescriptions for Ritalin were issued in the UK, compared to about 100,000 a decade earlier.
SIGNS OF ADDICTION
When Ritalin is used therapeutically to control ADHD, it is not very addictive. However, when used recreationally, the risk of psychological dependence is high, as with other stimulant drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.
Heavy users can easily become addicted to Ritalin, in which case they will experience the classic withdrawal effects associated with stimulants between “highs”. This cycle of high dose use followed by withdrawal effects can make a person very depressed, out of touch with reality, irritable and potentially violent.
In a recreational setting, Ritalin addiction is also noticeable in a lack of appetite and therefore rapid weight loss and malnutrition. Those affected may feel nauseous and vomit a lot, suffer from dizziness and severe headaches, have skin rashes and constant scratching.
They may also have insomnia and show signs of sleep deprivation such as dark circles, cold sweats and pallor.
Ritalin addicts can be very anxious, nervous, irritable, depressed and paranoid. Finally, they may be subject to violent mood swings.
Ritalin addiction can lead to overdose, which is characterized by dilated pupils, high temperature, tics or convulsions, flushed skin, tachycardia, vomiting and sweating. In high doses, Ritalin can also trigger hallucinations.
Some users inhale the drug in powder form, in which case they may experience red nostrils and constant sniffing.
Those who inject Ritalin may get needle marks on their arms or legs or sores and scabs from dirty needles.
TREATMENTS
Ritalin is very addictive if used regularly and recreationally. In this case, a treatment program may be necessary to stop. This can be done in a detoxification center or on an outpatient basis, with regular counseling, depending on the severity of the addiction and other factors related to the patient’s environment and social situation.
Ritalin detox under the supervision of medical professionals can last up to a week. The most common symptoms associated with detoxification are insomnia, anxiety, and a craving for the drug. Medication is administered during this time to treat these symptoms and ease the suffering. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and blood pressure lowering medications may also be prescribed to detox patients.
Finally, because the loss of appetite caused by Ritalin addiction can lead to severe malnutrition, vitamins and other nutritional supplements may be administered throughout the program.
Ritalin withdrawal can lead to suicidal thoughts, which is why all patients are closely monitored. It is critical that addicts do not have access to medications that were not prescribed to them in the first phase of treatment, and as a result, visits may be limited and patients confined to the center. Throughout the program, addicts will undergo regular urine tests to verify that they have stopped taking the drug. The most successful treatments are those that involve a stay of at least three months in the center.
TREATMENT
Once detoxification is complete, counseling and therapy follow to prevent patients from relapsing. Individual therapy is usually required to address the underlying psychological reasons why the individual is using Ritalin recreationally. These may include family problems, pressure to perform in school, or the influence of others. Group sessions with other former addicts are often organized to share experiences and support each other, as well as individual counseling. In some cases, family members and spouses are invited to participate in the counselling process. Many former addicts attend 12-step programs with regular meetings, allowing them to continue receiving support throughout their lives.
Given the ease with which Ritalin can be obtained externally, patients are often provided with strategies to manage these situations.
Without the help of a detox program, people who try to stop using Ritalin are more likely to relapse than those who receive professional help. This is because long-term use alters brain function, requiring medication to treat withdrawal symptoms.
With Ritalin, the relapse rate is high and addicts may need repeated treatments before they are completely free of their addiction.
REFERENCES
www.netdoctor.co.uk/adhd/medicines/ritalin.html
www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/Ritalin
www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs6/6444/index.htm
www.doitnow.org/pages/526.html
www.clearhavencenter.com/substance-abuse-treatment-resources/ritalin.php
www.chiro.org/pediatrics/FULL/Methylphenidate_Facts.html
www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/ritalin/where-is-it-found.html
www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/ritalin/the-vicious-effects-of-prescription-stimulants.html
transformationstreatment.com/addiction-to-ritalin.html
www.ritalinabusehelp.com/signs-and-symptoms-of-ritalin-addiction
www.adhdportal.net/signs-of-ritalin-addiction-treatment.html
