РефератыИностранный языкRiRitalin Essay Research Paper RitalinThe parents of

Ritalin Essay Research Paper RitalinThe parents of

Ritalin Essay, Research Paper


Ritalin


The parents of six year old James Patrick Smith receive a phone call


from the school guidance counselor informing them of their child’s recent


hyperactive behavior. After a short conference, the guidance counselor suggests


to the parents a solution for young James’ problem; as a result, the family


visits their family doctor and the doctor diagnoses James with Attention Deficit


Disorder (ADD) during a one hour appointment. To remedy the disorder, the doctor


prescribes the “savior drug” for ADD patients; children are almost always fed


the drug Ritalin, a prescription medicine that packs a strong euphoric punch


(Machan 151). The preceding hypothetical situation commonly occurs in the


United States at a growing rate which may be too fast for the nation to contain.


The over-prescription of the drug Ritalin to correct ADD produces many negative


side effects upon patients and society.


In the vast market of prescription drugs, Ritalin, one of the most


highly used drugs, also carries with it some of the greatest medical drawbacks.


ADD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stands tall as America’s


number one psychiatric disorder (Hancock 52). Estimates suggest that more than


two million children live with the disorder; in addition, according to Dr.


Daniel Safer of Johns Hopkins University, over 1.3 million regularly consume


Ritalin for treatment of ADD (Hancock 52). Ritalin appears to be a popular


choice for doctors, but the daily effects of the drug, which family physicians


do not see, creates questions as to how well the drug actually works.


Scientifically know as methylphenidate, Ritalin stimulates the central nervous


system with similarities to amphetamines in the nature and extent of its


effects; furthermore, it supposedly activates the brain stem arousal system and


the cerebral cortex (Bailey 3). The key factor remains that doctors and


researchers are not sure of what precisely occurs when Ritalin invades the human


body. Hancock notes that no definite long-term studies exist to assure parents


that Ritalin does not cause more or less havoc in their child, nor does any


disease accompany prolonged usage (52). Testing results released by the Federal


Drug Administration (FDA) in February 1996, show a study of mice in which a rare


form of liver cancer arose as a result of Ritalin; however, the FDA still


regards Ritalin as “safe and effective” (Hancock 56). Offering almost as many


side effects as the number of people who take the drug, Ritalin alters many


different aspects of the body. Just a few symptoms cited by Bailey include:


nervousness, insomnia, loss of appetite, dizziness, heart palpitations,


headaches, extreme weight loss, skin rashes, possible psychotic episodes, and


severe withdrawals (3). Most physicians would not admit to being blind about


the true consequences of Ritalin, and most families never receive the needed


information to make an educated decision about Ritalin whether or not to take


the drug.


To be a potent drug with many numerous physical effects, Ritalin is not


respected by doctors who spend only a short amount of time with patients before


prescribing the “wonder drug” as treatment. Findings of a recent survey by the


Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, report that almost half of the


pediatricians surveyed said they send ADD/ADHD children home within a hour


(Hancock 52). Time appears to be on the side of the doctors which leaves


patients and their families holding a possible “time bomb” of Ritalin. With


assembly line-like characteristics, physicians turn patients in one door and out


the other without conversing with teachers, reviewing a child’s educational


level, nor doing psychological evaluations (Hancock 52). After children use all


the Ritalin given with one prescription, new prescriptions are required for


additional doses (Bailey 5). Doctors as well as pharmacies benefit monetarily


from the constant appointments to the doctor and the many prescriptions


respectively, for a drug that may be doing more harm than good. No X-ray, blood


scan, or CT scan determines who does or does not need Ritalin (Hancock 52).


Hancock states that prescribing Ritalin has become more of an art form rather


than a scientific method (52). Physicians hand out Ritalin without proper


research and examination of each individual.


Using Ritalin creates psychological changes in addition to the medical


effects which become evident. Throughout life every person loses concentration


or does not pay attention to the present situation; however, if ADD was based


upon the individual occurrences that all humans experience, then the entire


world would be diagnosed with ADD and consuming Ritalin. Citing the main


criticism of Ritalin, Hancock states the drug is simply a quick fix for children


living in an impatient world (52). “It takes more time for parents and teachers


to sit down and talk to kids; it takes less time to get a child a pill,” states


Dr. Sharon Collins, a pediatrician in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where reportedly eight


percent of the children are on Ritalin (Hancock 52). Parents many times


initiate the pursuit to obtain Ritalin with hopes that the “miracle drug” can


work to help their child achieve more. Leutwyler writes of anecdotes about


parents seek to find an ADD/ADHD diagnosis for their child so that he or she may


possibly study more intently, focus on tests, and get better overall grades (14).


Children obtain false senses of security which leads many to put trust in a


capsule or a pill and disregard individual responsibilities to work without the


aid of a drug. Stating a similar fact, Machan explains that children must learn


to be held responsible for their behavior and every physical condition cannot be


corrected by a drug (151). Russel A Barkley of the University of Massachusetts


Medical Center states that “we are giving kids medication rather than dealing


with their problems” (14). Psychological dependence upon a medication is an


addiction to something that is almost always not necessary especially when


Ritalin with its unknown effects is used a tool by impatient parents.


Ritalin creeps into society as a drug with a big name and reputation for


being widely used; in addition, the illegal side effect of abuse comes along


into the picture. Classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, Ritalin


comes under strict regulations and quotas from the federal government dictating


the amount of the drug that can be manufactured (Bailey 2). Abusing the drug


usually takes place by snorting or injecting Ritalin into the body which


stimulates cocaine-like effects along with an armful of unwanted symptoms that


invade normal biological processes (Bailey 4). Intravenous use of Ritalin as


Bailey explains, exposes the body to many dust particles and even smaller


bacteria which can attach to the needle, flow straight into the blood, and


contaminate the circulatory system (4). Snorting Ritalin, which is more common,


harms the body just as much as does intravenous abuse. Ritalin tablets contain


hydrochloride salt which produces dilute hydrochloric acid when it comes in


contact with moisture; once inside the nasal passages, the acid burns the tender


nasal tissues which controls the olfactory sense in the body (Bailey 5). The


price that some people pay to damage their bodies expresses the lack of common


sense which abusers have. In the illicit street drug market, tablets usually


cost between three to fifteen dollars for a tablet that is no larger than a tic


found in the woods in size (Bailey 2). As ADD diagnosis increases, doctors’


demand for Ritalin increases to distribute to the patient; however, due to


government restrictions on manufacturing quotas, the amount of the drug


available is limited and abuse of the drug hinders the number of pills on the


legal market (Bailey 2). Hancock alerts that one of the most common places of


illegal sell of Ritalin lies on the school yards of America; enterprising


children see the opportunity to make some money and neglect their parents’ waste


of money every time a prescription is written (56). Even government regulations


cannot control Ritalin with policemen on every playground in the United States.


Society reaps a harvest of malignant effects by the abuse of Ritalin and most


people see nothing wrong.


God has given the knowledge to researchers and developers of


pharmaceuticals to design drugs in order that people benefit from the use. If


doctors abuse the privilege to diagnose afflictions and distribute medicines,


then society will become corrupt with drugs and illegal drug sells. Physicians


must respect the privilege and give drugs to those who are medically in need of


it and not just as a pacifier. Ritalin can be a help if the proper research and


study determines what the drug actually effects and who requires the drug for


healthier living and b

etter focus on life.Hopkins 3


The parents of six year old James Patrick Smith receive a phone call


from the school guidance counselor informing them of their child’s recent


hyperactive behavior. After a short conference, the guidance counselor suggests


to the parents a solution for young James’ problem; as a result, the family


visits their family doctor and the doctor diagnoses James with Attention Deficit


Disorder (ADD) during a one hour appointment. To remedy the disorder, the doctor


prescribes the “savior drug” for ADD patients; children are almost always fed


the drug Ritalin, a prescription medicine that packs a strong euphoric punch


(Machan 151). The preceding hypothetical situation commonly occurs in the


United States at a growing rate which may be too fast for the nation to contain.


The over-prescription of the drug Ritalin to correct ADD produces many negative


side effects upon patients and society.


In the vast market of prescription drugs, Ritalin, one of the most


highly used drugs, also carries with it some of the greatest medical drawbacks.


ADD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stands tall as America’s


number one psychiatric disorder (Hancock 52). Estimates suggest that more than


two million children live with the disorder; in addition, according to Dr.


Daniel Safer of Johns Hopkins University, over 1.3 million regularly consume


Ritalin for treatment of ADD (Hancock 52). Ritalin appears to be a popular


choice for doctors, but the daily effects of the drug, which family physicians


do not see, creates questions as to how well the drug actually works.


Scientifically know as methylphenidate, Ritalin stimulates the central nervous


system with similarities to amphetamines in the nature and extent of its


effects; furthermore, it supposedly activates the brain stem arousal system and


the cerebral cortex (Bailey 3). The key factor remains that doctors and


researchers are not sure of what precisely occurs when Ritalin invades the human


body. Hancock notes that no definite long-term studies exist to assure parents


that Ritalin does not cause more or less havoc in their child, nor does any


disease accompany prolonged usage (52). Testing results released by the Federal


Drug Administration (FDA) in February 1996, show a study of mice in which a rare


form of liver cancer arose as a result of Ritalin; however, the FDA still


regards Ritalin as “safe and effective” (Hancock 56). Offering almost as many


side effects as the number of people who take the drug, Ritalin alters many


different aspects of the body. Just a few symptoms cited by Bailey include:


nervousness, insomnia, loss of appetite, dizziness, heart palpitations,


headaches, extreme weight loss, skin rashes, possible psychotic episodes, and


severe withdrawals (3). Most physicians would not admit to being blind about


the true consequences of Ritalin, and most families never receive the needed


information to make an educated decision about Ritalin whether or not to take


the drug.


To be a potent drug with many numerous physical effects, Ritalin is not


respected by doctors who spend only a short amount of time with patients before


prescribing the “wonder drug” as treatment. Findings of a recent survey by the


Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, report that almost half of the


pediatricians surveyed said they send ADD/ADHD children home within a hour


(Hancock 52). Time appears to be on the side of the doctors which leaves


patients and their families holding a possible “time bomb” of Ritalin. With


assembly line-like characteristics, physicians turn patients in one door and out


the other without conversing with teachers, reviewing a child’s educational


level, nor doing psychological evaluations (Hancock 52). After children use all


the Ritalin given with one prescription, new prescriptions are required for


additional doses (Bailey 5). Doctors as well as pharmacies benefit monetarily


from the constant appointments to the doctor and the many prescriptions


respectively, for a drug that may be doing more harm than good. No X-ray, blood


scan, or CT scan determines who does or does not need Ritalin (Hancock 52).


Hancock states that prescribing Ritalin has become more of an art form rather


than a scientific method (52). Physicians hand out Ritalin without proper


research and examination of each individual.


Using Ritalin creates psychological changes in addition to the medical


effects which become evident. Throughout life every person loses concentration


or does not pay attention to the present situation; however, if ADD was based


upon the individual occurrences that all humans experience, then the entire


world would be diagnosed with ADD and consuming Ritalin. Citing the main


criticism of Ritalin, Hancock states the drug is simply a quick fix for children


living in an impatient world (52). “It takes more time for parents and teachers


to sit down and talk to kids; it takes less time to get a child a pill,” states


Dr. Sharon Collins, a pediatrician in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where reportedly eight


percent of the children are on Ritalin (Hancock 52). Parents many times


initiate the pursuit to obtain Ritalin with hopes that the “miracle drug” can


work to help their child achieve more. Leutwyler writes of anecdotes about


parents seek to find an ADD/ADHD diagnosis for their child so that he or she may


possibly study more intently, focus on tests, and get better overall grades (14).


Children obtain false senses of security which leads many to put trust in a


capsule or a pill and disregard individual responsibilities to work without the


aid of a drug. Stating a similar fact, Machan explains that children must learn


to be held responsible for their behavior and every physical condition cannot be


corrected by a drug (151). Russel A Barkley of the University of Massachusetts


Medical Center states that “we are giving kids medication rather than dealing


with their problems” (14). Psychological dependence upon a medication is an


addiction to something that is almost always not necessary especially when


Ritalin with its unknown effects is used a tool by impatient parents.


Ritalin creeps into society as a drug with a big name and reputation for


being widely used; in addition, the illegal side effect of abuse comes along


into the picture. Classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, Ritalin


comes under strict regulations and quotas from the federal government dictating


the amount of the drug that can be manufactured (Bailey 2). Abusing the drug


usually takes place by snorting or injecting Ritalin into the body which


stimulates cocaine-like effects along with an armful of unwanted symptoms that


invade normal biological processes (Bailey 4). Intravenous use of Ritalin as


Bailey explains, exposes the body to many dust particles and even smaller


bacteria which can attach to the needle, flow straight into the blood, and


contaminate the circulatory system (4). Snorting Ritalin, which is more common,


harms the body just as much as does intravenous abuse. Ritalin tablets contain


hydrochloride salt which produces dilute hydrochloric acid when it comes in


contact with moisture; once inside the nasal passages, the acid burns the tender


nasal tissues which controls the olfactory sense in the body (Bailey 5). The


price that some people pay to damage their bodies expresses the lack of common


sense which abusers have. In the illicit street drug market, tablets usually


cost between three to fifteen dollars for a tablet that is no larger than a tic


found in the woods in size (Bailey 2). As ADD diagnosis increases, doctors’


demand for Ritalin increases to distribute to the patient; however, due to


government restrictions on manufacturing quotas, the amount of the drug


available is limited and abuse of the drug hinders the number of pills on the


legal market (Bailey 2). Hancock alerts that one of the most common places of


illegal sell of Ritalin lies on the school yards of America; enterprising


children see the opportunity to make some money and neglect their parents’ waste


of money every time a prescription is written (56). Even government regulations


cannot control Ritalin with policemen on every playground in the United States.


Society reaps a harvest of malignant effects by the abuse of Ritalin and most


people see nothing wrong.


God has given the knowledge to researchers and developers of


pharmaceuticals to design drugs in order that people benefit from the use. If


doctors abuse the privilege to diagnose afflictions and distribute medicines,


then society will become corrupt with drugs and illegal drug sells. Physicians


must respect the privilege and give drugs to those who are medically in need of


it and not just as a pacifier. Ritalin can be a help if the proper research and


study determines what the drug actually effects and who requires the drug for


healthier living and better focus on life.

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