Essay on Ritalin, The Wrong Choice

Medication for ADHD can cause a great deal of overdose for children that have ADHD. Their bodies will get addicted to the medication when they cannot do without them. If a patient stop taking it, their bodies will shut –down and start reacting in a strange way. These hidden symptoms can cause behavioral analysis that can evaluate the effect in medication that has form in the children body. It all starts from genetics, which cause ADHD, so it can be diagnose from the medication that can help the situation. This could be a good thing or a bad situation. The real risk factor of taking medication could start at birth or afterbirth.

ADHD is one of the most conventional behavior disorder that typically manifest itself in childhood (Carson, 2012), and can cause a multitude complications among a variety of settings such as social and school settings. Inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity are common symptoms for patients who suffer from ADHD. Children with ADHD can be very disorderly in classroom settings, and boys are ten times more likely than girls to receive a diagnosis in childhood, while in adulthood, the ratio is practically 2:1 (Carson, 2012). The most common treatment for ADHD is methlyphenidate, or Ritalin, a dopamine agonist/ norepinephrine agonist that inhibits reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine and norpinephrine. Methlyphenidate increases dopamine in the dorsal striatum, and both dopamine and norepinephrine in the prefrontal cortex. Notwithstanding, the fact that MPH is a dopamine agonist suggest that this disorder may be

In this day and age, drugs are being prescribed without hesitation. In fact, many of these drugs are being prescribed for children with various disorders. One of these disorders is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An estimated five to ten percent of children are diagnosed with this syndrome (Taylor 11). One of the methods to treat this disorder is to use stimulants, specifically Ritalin. This method is controversial because it has many side effects and its long-term effects are unknown. It can also lead to addiction. Approximately two to three percent of elementary school children are taking some kind of stimulant to treat ADHD (Taylor 64). Since so many children are taking this medication, new problems have arisen.

Treatments can relieve many of the symptoms, but there is no cure for the disorder. Hygiene and diet can be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of a child with ADHD. Parents who have children with this disorder try to reduce the child’s sugar intake and also their intake of processed foods. Nutritional supplements can be a treatment for ADHD based on the assumption that certain nutrients are crucial for normal brain functioning. Macronutrients (amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) have propped as treatment for ADHD (Spetie 278). When a patient is under the care of a physician their weight and vital signs are monitored on a routinely bases in order to insure there are no drastic changes. The most common type of medication used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a “Stimulant”. Stimulants have a calming effect on children with ADHD. Medication reduces children’s hyperactivity and impulsivity which can improve their ability to focus work, learn and live a normal life. Medications for ADHD can come in different forms, such as pills, liquid, skin patches, and capsules. Some of the medications that are widely used are Adderall (amphetamine) approved for children age 3 and older. Another common medication is Concerta (methylphenidate which is long acting. These medications can have different side effects on the patient, so it may take trial and error and close monitoring of the patient to determine what medication is best for the

     In the United States Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is the most common mental disorder found in children. Approximately 15 million people in the United States, in which 3.5 million are children, are diagnosed with ADD. There are many aspects of this disorder that many people are not even aware of. ADD is a neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system, as well as the motivational system. ADD affects two important parts of the brain that are connected with the ability to pay attention and the ability to regulate motor activity. ADD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. There is a deficiency in the brains’ ability to produce neurotransmitters. ADD is said

Throughout most of her childhood, Jessica Miele* was viewed by her family and peers as a strange girl. Her hyperactivity, trouble in school, and drive for music left her parents confused with what to do with him after several frustrating years. At age 14, Miele was sent from her home in New York to Vermont Academy, a boarding school in the mountains. It was there that she found his gifted ability to exprses herself creativley through art and music, and formed close friendships with her roommates. It was also in Vermont where she found the “study” drug, Ritalin.

It is estimated that between 3 and 12 percent of the population has to deal with conditions known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This equals approximately 3 million children in the United States alone. Both of these disorders (ADD and ADHD) exhibit the same traits leading them to be lumped together. Children affected by ADD or ADHD have behavior and emotional problems. Trouble concentrating on simple tasks, a short attention span, failing to give attention to details, and disruptive behavior are a few of the problems resulting from

Ritalin and other drugs used to treat children with ADHD and ADD have been given a lot of negative and some positive press over the years, but what is alarming is the statistics which I discovered from Suellen May, the editor of Understanding Drugs: Ritalin and Related Drugs: “In 1996, an estimated 1.5 million American schoolchildren (approximately 3-5% of all U.S. schoolchildren) were taking Ritalin daily” (9). The number clearly doubled over the years, which indicates that the use of Ritalin is increasing tremendously in America. With this in mind, while some feel that Ritalin is helpful overtime, the numbers show that Ritalin is actually not the best treatment for those who suffer from ADHD or ADD.

What is attention deficit hyper disorder? ADHD is a “chronic condition that affects pre-school or very young school children (Zivkovic 3822). ADHD symptoms are difficulty sustaining attention, impulsive behavior and hyper activity (3822). There was a research conducted by Cordest hat ADHD prevails in 3 to 5% of preschoolers and is more common in boys than in girls (3822). Children as young as three and four years of age are being diagnosed with ADHD and are being given medications. Parents with children between the ages of two and six should not medicate their children that are diagnosed with ADHD.

Today there is a great argument regarding the diagnosis and treatment of ADD/ADHD and who has the right to decide what happens. ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in young children. This is also one of the most common public health problems that we have today. There is an extreme rise of the prescription medicine Ritalin that doctors are prescribing to help with this specific type of disorder. Many adults believe that this medication is a "quick fix" that is not harmful to their children. When Ritalin is prescribed, it is to be introduced to the body in slow, steady doses, which simulates the brain's natural dopamine production. Parents of children that are diagnosed or have symptoms of ADHD may be unaware of recent

Stimulant Therapy is used to treat both moderate and severe ADHD and can increase alertness, attention, and energy in addition to elevating blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. This medication therapy may help children and adolescents focus their thoughts and ignore distractions to increase success across settings including at school, work, and home. The most commonly used stimulant medications are
methylphenidate and the
amphetamines. Evidence demonstrates that these
stimulants are safe when
prescribed to healthy children monitored
under medical supervision.21 (see table 1)

According to the APA (2014), ADHD is a behavioral condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging. Children with ADHD can be defiant, fidgety, noisy, socially inept, aggressive, and resist change (APA 2014). Medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Strattera are the most common form of treatment for children with ADHD. These medications are usually effective in modifying behavior, but seldom result in academic improvement. The medications also have an extensive list of potential side effects including rash, loss of appetite, and trouble breathing. Alternative therapies such as play therapy, cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and special ADHD diets do exist. With these alternative methods

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is without a doubt one of the largest social problems facing the Baby Boomers in the 21st century. The last two to three decades have seen this disorder labeled many different titles. As stated by Donald J. Brown in his article Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), 1996: “What is apparent is that ADHD is a collection of symptoms or criteria.” Labeling a child as ADHD creates a large potential for error. The traditional approach of putting children on long-term usage of stimulants such as Ritalin, Centedrin, and Rubifen might allow a child to better concentrate because it somehow slows down the otherwise hyperactive student but it does nothing

A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Zito and her

Studies indicate as many as 34% of students at institutions of higher education in the United States of America have used Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) stimulants illegally (Desantis and Hane par. 5). This alarmingly high number begs the questions: Are these drugs dangerous? Do people think that it is acceptable to use neuroenhancers? More interestingly, though, could these drugs potentially academically benefit their consumers in an academic environment?