Ritalin production in the United States has risen by 700% since 1991. The DEA estimates that pharmaceutical companies earn
approximately $450 million per year with stimulants, mostly for those with a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Ritalin is a controlled substance. It is a stimulant and is closely related to amphetamine, which is essentially a form of speed.
Children react differently than adults. In small-prescribed dosages, it helps the ADD child to focus.
According to Dr. Biederman, 10% of American children have ADD. If this is accurate, then one in six boys between ages 5 and 12 should be taking Ritalin. There is widespread concern that Ritalin may become a potential drug of abuse.
No country besides America is experiencing such a rise in Ritalin use. The ADD-Ritalin boom appears to be centered in white middle to upper-middle class families. Some teenagers and middle-school aged children are abusing Ritalin. They don’t view it as a serious drug, like cocaine or heroin. One safety factor for younger children is that Ritalin is not self-administered, so the opportunity for abuse is minimized.
Parents will call his office and want to have their child tested for ADD. It’s not that simple. There is no simple test for ADD. From years of practice, he believes that there are several factors involved in making a diagnosis, not just a simple checklist.
A rush to Ritalin medication is not always the answer to the problem. In fact, use of Ritalin could actually mask other difficulties. One 10-year old patient told him that he didn’t have a chemical imbalance, but a living imbalance. The child’s words may be very prophetic.
Our society has changed. The pressure to excel, academically and professionally, is stronger than ever. Two parent families who both work are under pressure themselves and that radiates through their family life and to their children.
There have been many theories related to the source of ADD. Is the problem psychological or biological? Who is to blame? Doctors are being pressured to medicate a child to solve the problem that occurs at home and at school.
In the current environment, a label of ADD on your child, has benefits as far as medical coverage and accommodations in the school system. It may look like an easy fix to a more complex problem. Many ADD children are placed in special education classes. With limited school budgets, there are fewer resources available for regular classrooms.
There are other methods beyond medication that need to be considered in a child’s treatment. This includes therapy for children and their families,
behavior modification, and working on parenting skills while coping with the child’s behavior. The goal is to best serve the interests of the child and his family.
What are the long-term effects on ADD children? We don’t know. It has been difficult to track children as they grow up. Some wean themselves off the drug as teenagers and stay off Ritalin successfully.
Adults being diagnosed with ADD have been the fastest growing segment in the last five years. In adults, there is a shift from behavior problems to performance problems. People are taking Ritalin to help them focus and improve their performance at work or school.
Dr. Diller concludes that the surge in diagnosis of ADD in American society should be taken seriously. We are not meeting the needs of our children. Adults are struggling with the demands of life and society, as well. Where will it stop? What will happen to our nation if we continue to keep running on Ritalin?