By Barbara Norden

Hands down, the most common, and often the ONLY treatment for ADHD in our country today is drug therapy. Treatment for ADHD is SUPPOSED to combine drugs with counseling for behavior and education, but out of the 80 to 85% of kids diagnosed with this "disorder", only about half of those get anything other than a prescription and a bill. So what are these drugs we are issuing to 6 to 8% of the American children? Let's check them out.

By far the most popular drug used for the treatment of ADD/ADHD is Ritalin. Manufactured by Ciba-Geigy, it holds about 93% of the behavior-control market.(16) Ritalin is the brand name for the generic drug Methyphenidate, which has almost the identical chemical compounds as Cocaine. It breaks down very similarly in the body, and effects the brain in the same way as Cocaine by inhibiting the rerouting the chemical dopamine in the brain. The main difference is that Cocaine is cleared from the brain more quickly than Ritalin. In other words, Ritalin has the same effect as Cocaine on the brain, only it doesn't wear off as fast.(6) According to the DEA, Ritalin is the number 2 drug illegally sold in our schools today, but still they continue to portray it as non-addictive. Banned in Sweden over 20 years ago, it has become so widely abused here that in 1995 the International Narcotics Control Board of the United Nations warned that "the abuse of Methylphenidate in the United States has increased and cases have been reported of serious damage to health as a result of such abuse."

The average age of those abusing Ritalin today? 10 to 14, ladies and gentleman. In that age group, Ritalin is more popular than Cocaine, no doubt due to it's availability. Our school tell them "Just Say No" to drugs, and then hand Ritalin out like it's candy. They may treat it like aspirin, but it most definitely is not. Ritalin is a controlled substance. What that means, is that every time your doctor writes a prescription, he must fill it out in triplicate. He keep a copy, he gives you a copy to have filled, and that third copy is sent directly to the DEA, where they keep it on file. The DEA puts manufacturing limits on controlled substances - all of the drugs must be accounted for each year- and the manufacturer is only allowed to make so much (although every year that limit is raised higher and higher). Also important to know, is that anyone filling that prescription is registered in the DEA database as a Class II drug user. Did your doctor tell you that? I bet not. If your child uses Ritalin, according to the 1999 Military Recruitment Manual, Class II drug users may not join the Air Force, Army, Marines or Navy. Ever. Never ever. They are Class II drug users. So much for Johnny being an Astronaut. If your child uses Ritalin, the State or Federal Government can not hire them for any job that requires security clearance, or involves state or national security. They are a Class II drug user. They can be turned down for life and health insurances, or be charged higher rates or even have a pre-existing condition clause added to their policy - because they are Class II drug users. How nice.

In 1995, the DEA itself stated that "the documentation... directly refutes the assertions that methyphenidate is a benign, mild stimulant that is not associated with abuse or serious side effects." (4) At a news conference in 1996, DEA official Gene Haislip made this remark, "These drugs [Ritalin and other stimulants] have been over-promoted, over-marketed and over-sold, resulting in profits of some $450 million annually. This constitutes a potential health threat to many children and has also created a new source of drug abuse and illicit traffic." (5). In Ritalin Nation: Little Boys on Drugs", John Lang of the Naples Daily News made this observation, "Child Psychiatrist Denis Donovan notes that early use of stimulant drugs makes the brain physically more receptive to other drugs such as cocaine. In short, Donovan says we may be teaching young children's brains to develop a "taste" for stimulants. "When a child has taken Ritalin... from the third or sixth grade on, that child no longer has a stimulant-naive brain. Why would we want to be initiating all these brains into more efficient responsiveness to this whole class of licit and illicit stimulants?"

ABC's 20/20 show (October 1995) revealed that children are snorting Ritalin, teachers are stealing it, parents are selling it... Tim Benedick of the Ohio State Pharmacy Board made this statement on the same show, "It [Ritalin] is highly addictive. It is speed." (2) So by giving speed to children as young as THREE years old, aren't we teaching them that drugs are the answer to all their problems? Did you know that Kurt Cobain was on Ritalin for years before he found heroin? He had brutal stomach pains, but was that treated? He was given Ritalin and sent on his way. Short term side effects of Ritalin use include loss of appetite, tics, decreased growth, nervousness, visual disturbances, insomnia, depression, social withdrawal, irritability, abdominal pain, increased heart rate and psychotic-like symptoms.(7) Long term use of Ritalin has not been medically studied or reported, but I would like to venture forth some statistics. These stories come from the testimony of Bruce Wiseman, National President of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR). He presented these statistics to the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee in July 1999:(8)

* On May 25, 1997 18-year-old Jeremy Strohmeyer raped and murdered a 7-year-old African American girl in a casino outside Las Vegas, NV. Strohmeyer had been diagnosed with ADD and precribed Dexedrine, a Ritalin-like drug.

* On October 1st, 1997, in Pearl, Mississippi, 16-year-old Luke Woodham stabbed his mother, 50-year-old Mary Woodham - to death and then went to his high school where he shot nine people, killing two teenage girls and wounding seven other. Published reports say he was on Prozac.

* Exactly two months later on December 1st, 1997, Michael Carneal, a 14-year-old, opened fire on students at a high school prayer meeting in West Paducah, Kentucky. Three teenagers were killed, five others were wounded, one of whom was paralyzed. Carneal was reportedly on Ritalin.

* Then in February, 1998 a young man in Huntsville, Alabama on Ritalin, went psychotic, chopping up his parents with an ax, and also killing one sibling and almost murdering another.

* On March 24, 1998 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, 11-year-old Andrew Golden and 14-year-old Mitchell Johnson shot 15 people, killing four students, one teacher, and wounding 10 others. According to published reports, the boys were on Ritalin.

* On May 21, 1998 15-year-old Kip Kinkel of Springfield, Oregon murdered his parents and proceeded to his high school where he went on a rampage, killing two students and wounding 22 others. Kinkel hd been prescribed both Prozac and Ritalin.

* On April 16th, 1999, 15-year-old Chawn Cooper of Notus, Idaho took a 12-gauge shotgun to school and started firing, injuring one student and holding the school hostage for about 20 minutes. Terrified students ran for their lives, some barricading themselves in classrooms. Cooper had been taking Ritalin.

* The incident in Idaho did not make the national press, but all that changed four days later when 18-year-old Erica Harris killed 12 students and a teacher at Columbine High School before killing himself. Harris was on one of the SSRI anti-depressants called Luvox.

* One month later to the day, on May 20th, 1999 T.J. Solomon, a 15-year-old high school student in Conyers, Georgia on Ritalin opened fire on and wounded six of his classmates. Thankfully, none were killed.

* Then there's 14-year-old Rod Mathews who had been prescribed Ritalin since the third grade and beat a classmate to death with a bat.

* And 19-year-old James Wilson, who had been on psychiatric drugs for 5 years and took a .22 caliber revolver into an elementary school in Breenwood, South Carolina, killing two young girls and wounding seven other children and two teachers.


Ritalin can cause what is called "toxic psychosis", a syndrome that usually occurs in overdoses, but has been reported in individuals taking standard doses.(9) Symptoms of toxic psychosis include hallucinations, delirium, and sometimes violent behavior. A recent report also notes that Ritalin can interact with anesthesia in unexpected ways, possibly endangering children requiring surgery.(10) To really put the icing on the Ritalin cake, come to find out that some of the most influential research that has been conducted on the drug turned out later to be a complete fraud. According to Dr. Sydney Walker (3): "The initial Ritalin boom in the 1980's was fueled in part by positive data reported by Stephen Breuning, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. Breuning later became quite famous for this research, but not for the reasons you'd expect. Investigaators at the National Institute of Mental Health discovered, in the mid-1980's, that Breuning had not actually conducted most of the research he was reporting. Billy Goodman notes in The Scientest (March 18, 1996) that "in 1988, Breuning became the first independent researcher in the United States to be indicted on research fraud, and ultimately pled guilty to two charges of filing false reports." Breuning also was involved in research on Dexedrine, another drug used to treat hyperactivity."

With that said, let's move on over and discuss Dexedrine.

Dexedrine, which is short for Dextroamphetamine, has been around for quite a while. It is not as popular for treating ADHD as it once was, but you still hear about it from time to time. It is an amphetamine, and also a controlled substance. You may remember it from the 60's - it was an extremely popular diet pill back then, due to it's ability to suppress the appetite. It fell out of favor because of it's high potential for abuse. They obviously don't have a problem exposing our kids to it, though. Dexedrine has side-effects similar to Ritalin.(11)

Adderall is the newest drug being used for ADHD. Manufactured by the McNeil company, and sponsored by ALZA Corp, this Johnny-come-lately is grabbing quite a large slice of the pie now. Much of its new popularity can be blamed on their aggressive ad campaign - incentives for doctors and pharmacists, competitive pricing and a really attractive public advertising campaign with slogans such as "Another ADHD Success Story" to help you through this "troubling time". Adderall is also an amphetamine. Just to remind you, according to the Physician's Desk Reference: "amphetamines have a high potential for abuse. Administration of amphetamines for prolonged periods of time may lead to drug dependence and must be avoided. Particular attention should be paid to the possibility of subjects obtaining amphetamines for non-therapeutic use or distribution to others, and the drugs should be prescribed or dispensed sparingly."(12) The PDR also states that Adderall specifically can cause heart palpitations, increase in blood pressure, psychotic episodes, restlessness, dizziness, tics, insomnia, diarrhea or constipation. A small price to pay for Mary to sit still in class, right?

Cylert (Pemoline) - this one had quite a run for a while, that is until they discovered that it causes irrepairable liver damage. Unfortunately, it was the second most popular drug treatment right up into the 90's before they made the connection. I even met a woman just two years ago whose 8-year-old had liver damage thanks to Cylert, so it's still being prescribed even though it's danger is widely known.

Prozac (Fluoxetine) - Only started being prescribed for ADHD in the last 5 years or so, it has the same potential for abuse as Ritalin. Researched primarily for use toward adult depression, it has never been tested for use on young children, but more and more often, psychiatrists are labeling chldren as not only ADHD but depressed as well (wouldn't YOU be depressed?), and therefore prescribing Prozac- and sometimes BOTH Ritalin and Prozac simultaneously! Potential side effects are heat intolerance leading to loss of consciousness or even permanent brain damage (14), extreme restlessness, sleeplessness, irritability, violent behavior, involuntary muscle movements and neurological damage that does not always reverse itself after discontinuing the drug. (15)

Desipramine (Norpramin) is an antidepressant that is quite often prescribed for ADHD in spite of the fact that it is not approved for use in children at all. It's approved use is for depression in adults, but doctors are starting to precribe it for children nonethless. There have been cases of children suffering from sudden cardiac arrest and death while taking this drug.(13)

Tofranil (Imipramine Hydrochloride) is sometimes used to treat ADHD symptoms. A tricyclic antidepressant, it has never been tested or approved for use towards ADHD, or in children. It's primary function is in treating enuresis (bed-wetting) in adults. Can cause bone marrow to break down, neurological, cardiac and other problems. (12)

Atomoxetine is a brand new entry into the market- I was made aware of it December 2001. They state that this new drug really DOES improve the symptoms of ADHD/ADD in adults and children. As soon as I find out more on this one, I will update this page.


The doctors prescribing these drugs are not helping our children. Clearly these drugs are serious, and the side-effects are WAY worse than the symptoms they are treating. What bothers me most is that few parents are warned of the potential risk that they are putting their children through - how risky these drugs really are. The biggest disservice of all is that they are not doing anything to solve the problem. They are throwing drugs to temporarily ease the symptoms (and even that is debateable) and make everyone feel like they are doing what they can for your kids. Well, they aren't doing anything. Until someone diagnoses and treats the conditions that are making them hyper or irrational or sleepless or spacey, all you are doing is covering up the symptoms.

The following quote is from Dr. Sydney in his book "The Hyperactivity Hoax": "Doctors who cover up disease symptoms with a "feel-good" amphetamine like drug such as Ritalin, lulling families into believing that their children are being treated when they're merely being pacified by a mind-altering drug, are irresponsible. But an even more irresponsible act being committed by far too many doctors is the drugging of children with no behavior problems at all. A few decades ago, boisterous little boys and girls were affectionately called scamps, rascals and class pests. Now these children are called sick, and doctors are putting them on powerful medications for years or even decades. Doctors are increasingly labeling normal childhood moods and behaviors as hyperactivity and attention disorder and altering these moods and behaviors with potent drugs. In effect, we are coming ever closer to chemically designing children who will be obedient, docile and compliant -- something that should be abhorrent to moral individuals. (It's chilling that on the revised Conner's Questionnaire, a form often used to "diagnose" hyperactivity before prescribing Ritalin, two symptoms include "being sassy" and "wanting to run things". In adults, those characteristics might be called independence and assertiveness, and they probably wouldn't be drugged away.) As columnist Arianna Huffington recently said, commenting on the epidemic of psychoactive drug consumption by both adults and children, "Treating life as an illness is bad enough. But treating childhood as a disease is tragic.""

I couldn't agree more.


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