The Dangers of Ritalin :: Argumentative Health ADD Essays

The p bents of six year old James Patrick Smith nab a ph angiotensin converting enzyme callfrom the school guidance guidance inform them of their childs recenthyperactive behavior. After a short conference, the guidance counselor suggeststo the parents a solution for young James problem as a result, the familyvisits their family animate and the doctor diagnoses James with wariness DeficitDisorder (ADD) during a one hour appointment. To remedy the trouble, the doctorprescribes the savior drug for ADD patients children are almost always fedthe drug methylphenidate, a prescription medicine that packs a strong euphoric punch(Machan 151). The preceding hypothetical touch commonly occurs in theUnited States at a growing pace which may be too fast for the nation to contain.The over-prescription of the drug methylphenidate to correct ADD produces many an(prenominal) negative boldness effects upon patients and society.In the vast market of prescription drugs, methylphenidate, one of the mosthighly utilise drugs, also carries with it some of the greatest medical drawbacks.ADD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stands tall as Americasnumber one psychiatric disorder (Hancock 52). Estimates suggest that more thantwo million children live with the disorder in addition, according to Dr.Daniel Safer of Johns Hopkins University, over 1.3 million regularly consumeRitalin for treatment of ADD (Hancock 52). Ritalin appears to be a popular prime(prenominal) for doctors, but the daily effects of the drug, which family physiciansdo not see, creates questions as to how easy the drug actually works.Scientifically know as methylphenidate, Ritalin stimulates the fundamental nervoussystem with similarities to amphetamines in the nature and extent of itseffects furthermore, it supposedly activates the brain stem arousal system andthe cerebral cortex (Bailey 3). The bring up factor remains that doctors andresearchers are not sure of what precisely occurs when Ri talin invades the humanbody. Hancock notes that no definite long-term studies exist to visualise parentsthat Ritalin does not cause more or less carnage in their child, nor does anydisease accompany prolonged usage (52). examen results released by the FederalDrug Administration (FDA) in February 1996, show a study of mice in which a rareform of liver crabmeat arose as a result of Ritalin however, the FDA stillregards Ritalin as safe and effective (Hancock 56). Offering almost as manyside effects as the number of people who take the drug, Ritalin alters manydifferent aspects of the body. Just a few symptoms cited by Bailey includenervousness, insomnia, difference of appetite, dizziness, heart palpitations,headaches, extreme weight loss, skin rashes, possible psychotic episodes, and toilsome withdrawals (3).