"Kiddy Cocaine"

This new street drug is one that is doled out by psychiatrists to kids with ADHD. I'm talking about Ritalin.
Some oof the street names for it are:
Diet Coke
Rids
Kiddy cocaine
Skittles
R-Ball
Smarties
Vitamin R
Poor man's cocaine

Ritalin is the common name for methylphenidate, classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule II narcotic — the same classification as cocaine, morphine and amphetamines. It is abused by kids and teens for its stimulant effects.
While the law forbids unrestricted distribution of these powerful stimulants, the sad fact remains that these substances are freely available almost anywhere. “Kiddie cocaine,” as it has been called, is handed out like candy. In some schools as many as 20 percent of the students take Ritalin regularly.

Short-term Effects:
Its severest effects include nervousness, insomnia, pulse changes and heart problems. In June 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that Ritalin and its sister drugs may cause visual hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, psychotic behavior, as well as aggression or violent behavior. Hazards multiply as users up their quantity, grind and snort it, liquefy or inject it, and use it along with ecstasy and other drugs. Abuse in larger doses puts stress on the heart, which can be fatal, and injection causes serious damage to the lungs and eyes.

Long Term Effects:
The manufacturer says methylphenidate is a drug of dependency. Children on stimulant medications have twice the future rate of drug abuse. One-third of all child anorexia (eating disorders) are linked to use of this drug, as are symptoms of obsessive compulsive behavior — within the first year of use.
A Texas researcher has also found that after only three months of Ritalin use, one out of twelve children treated with it had genetic abnormalities associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Those are the facts on this vile substance. I got this information from www.drugsalvage.org. Before opening your kid up to a world of drug abuse and horror, check out the facts. Additional information can be found at www.cchr.com.