Increased use of Non-Prescription Ritalin by Students

An article came into my hand-dandy yahoo alerts that talked about usage of non-prescription Ritalin and Adderall. These are both schedule II drugs, in the same addictive category as PCP, cocaine opium and more.

The main stress of the article is on college students using these drugs to get through finals.  This not only builds an unhealthy study habit, it also makes drugs a solution to stress.  There are so many other solutions - like scheduling your life out, predicting what's coming up, making sure you are happy with what you are doing in life, etc.  

Why do you think kids in school are turning to drugs instead of managing their stresses with time-tested methods?  Are they lazy and want an easy way out?  Or is it that our society is fundamentally geared to think drugs will handle our problems?  Let me know what you think.

Ball Players Abuse Ritalin

The Las Vegas Sun reports that Baseball players have been getting around the ban on amphetamine use by taking Ritalin - also known as "Kiddy Cocaine" when used illegally. Check out the story here

Ritalin - Leading to Drug Abuse

Ritalin - also known (when abused) as "Kiddy Cocaine" is a highly addictive substance that can that can lead to substance abuse later in the user's life.

This drug that is supposed to "focus attention" by virtue of being a Schedule II narcotic (meaning in the same class as drugs like cocaine, morphine, methamphetamine, opium and others). So, of course it focuses attention - so does speed and cocaine. It's also highly addictive, like speed or coke.

Now, I highly doubt anyone would want to give cocaine or speed to their kid. So, why would they want to give Ritalin to their child?

"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.