Ritalin Addiction Treatment

Described as a central nervous system stimulant, the common name for methylphenidate is Ritalin, Poor Man’s Cocaine or Kiddie Cocaine and is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration under the same category as cocaine, morphine and amphetamines as a Schedule 2 narcotic and is most commonly abused by teens for its stimulant effects. Even though it might be used as a prescription drug, it may still result in severe effects such as insomnia, anorexia, pulse change, heart problems and weight loss.

Much before, in 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration had issued a series of public health advisories warning that drugs like Ritalin may cause visual hallucinations, suicidal thoughts and psychotic behavior along with aggravating the incidents of aggression and violent behavior. Ritalin and related “hyperactivity” type drugs can be found almost anywhere as students frequently store up such prescription drugs and hand out the extras to friends and family by falsely claiming to suffer from “study disorders” with the added problem of inability to concentrate or might even steal or obtain a fraudulent prescription.

Just like cocaine or any other stimulants the “upper” feeling is invariably followed by a “crash” or feelings of fatigue, depression and decreased alertness while larger doses by snorting for bigger rush sharply increase tolerance levels and further lead to convulsions, headaches, intense hallucinations and even death due to heart attacks as shown in many tragic cases of children. Ritalin comes in the form of small pills about the size and shape of aspirin tablets with the word “Ciba” (the manufacturer’s name) stamped on it.

Abusers of Ritalin grind the tablets into a powder and snort it while it is also water soluble which makes it easier to convert into a liquid which can easily be injected to produce the “jolt” that addicts crave so much. Even the manufacturer of the drug does not know how it affects the human body by stating in simple terms in the drug’s package insert the fact that “The mode of action in man is not completely understood”.

Studies such as those conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and a study of 500 students over a period of 25 years has found that users of Ritalin and similar drugs “showed the highest percentage of cocaine abuse” along with the greater likelihood of using other stimulants later in life. High doses of Ritalin lead to similar symptoms such as those of other stimulant abuse including tremors, muscle twitching, paranoia and psychosis along with a sensation of worms or bugs crawling under the skin.