Ritalin (the brand name for methylphenidate) is widely known and used as a treatment for ADHD in children.
For many years, Ritalin was seen as relatively harmless until abuse of the drug started appearing in schools and colleges about a decade ago.
In 2002 the effects of Ritalin abuse made the news when three students at Antelope Valley High School, near Los Angeles, were hospitalized because of overdosing from the drug. Ten other students were also treated after becoming groggy or incoherent.
Today, many illicit drug users are getting their hands on Ritalin pills and using them along with drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists Ritalin in the top ten of prescription drugs that are stolen today.
High school and college students use the drug for the similar stimulant high that cocaine offers. Staying up for days in order to party or study have been some of the reasons given for its use. Most of the time the students buy from a classmate who has a prescription for the pills. Some students fake symptoms in order to get their own prescription from the family doctor.
Ritalin users pop multiple pills at a time or crush the pills up to snort them for a quicker high. Intravenous drug users crush the pills, and then dissolve in water in order to cook it down for injection. With street names like “kibbles and bits,” “west coast” and “vitamin R,” the illegal use of Ritalin is an alarming trend.
The Dangers of Ritalin Abuse
There are severe consequences for stealing or illegally selling Ritalin because it is listed as a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Even more dire than the legal ramifications are the potential health risks of abusing Ritalin. Most users are not aware of the possible negative health side effects, especially when snorting the drug. Rapid increase in heart rate can lead to stroke, heart arrhythmia and seizures.
Mixing ritalin with cocaine or even innocuous legal drugs like decongestants, also increase the chance of side effects. Because chances of overdose increase as a person becomes tolerant of the drug, and the symptoms of withdrawal experienced when the abuse is stopped, many drug rehabilitation facilities are now offering specific programs for recovery from Ritalin addiction. While prescribing Ritalin for ADHD in children has proven successful, the potential for abuse and illicit use cannot be ignored.