Ritalin And Its Uses

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Term Paper Title	Ritalin And Its Uses
# of Words	1395
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.58

Ritalin and Its Uses

Ritalin and Its Uses

     In recent years, more and more kids seem to be on a prescription drug
called Ritalin(methylphenidate).  This drug is being handed out more and more by
doctors as a way of treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a complex
neurological impairnment that prevents kids from concentrating.  According to
the Drug Enforcement Agency, it rose fron 200 grams per 100,000 people to over
1400 grams per 100,000 people in the last fifteen years.  The National Institute
of Mental Health estimates that about one student in every classroom is believed
to experience the disorder.  The rate of Ritalin use in the United States is at
least five times higher than in the rest of the world according to federal
studies.  Are doctors just catching this disabling affliction more often? Or
does society just want a convenient way to solve a complicated problem.
     Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that is somewhat similar
to amphetamines.  It was created in 1955, classified as a controlled substance
in 1971, and became the drug of choice for ADHD in 1981.  It is also used in
treating narcolepsy.  It is thought to activate the brain stem arousal system
and cortex, and, like cocaine, works on the neurotransmitter dopamine.  It
appears to increase the levels of dopamine in the frontal lobe where attention
and impulsive actions are regulated.  When taken in its intended form under a
doctor's prescritption, it has moderate stimulant properties.  There has been a
great deal of concern about it's addictive qualities and adverse affects.
     ADHD is a relatively new disorder.  It was introduced in 1980, where it
was labeled ADD(attention deficit disorder).  In the 1950's, children were
simply labeled "hyperkinetic."  The term "hyperactivity" was added in 1987,
hence the name ADHD.  Not all children have the hyperactivity, and thus are
labeled to have ADD.  ADD is not treated with Ritalin; antidepressants are more
commonly used.  One of the problems with the label ADHD is that just because a
child may be overly hyper, doesn't mean the child is not paying attention.  The
problem is, the child is paying too much attention to too many things at the
same time.
     ADHD is children's #1 childhood psychiatric disorder.  The prevalence is
three times as likely in boys than girls.  The children tend to be very bright,
but are poor students because they cna't settle down.  They blurt questions out
before they are asked.  They can't wait their ...

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