Ritalin:Beneficial Or Dangerous
...a mild Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant. This paper will explore the use of Ritalin in terms of its biological, cognitive, social and physical developmental effects on the children that use it in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. The impact the drug has on the user, the family of the user and on their education will also be addressed.
Ritalin is the primary drug of choice in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder in children. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a condition characterized by elevated levels of inattention, motor activity, and impulsive behaviour and affects almost 5% of school-age children and can reach as high as 12% (Klein, Abikoff, Hechtman, Weiss, 2004). Because it affects many children in all parts of society, from upper class to lower class, from learning disabled to gifted, researchers have devoted a lot of time to study the condition and its treatment. The condition affects not only the child at home with his family but in the school classroom environment as well as his relationships with his peers.
Ritalin increases extracellular dopamine in the brain by blocking dopamine transporters. It also increases dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, which may reinforce the effects of drugs of abuse. Stimulant induced dopamine increases are thought to be responsible for improving attention and performance (Volkow, Swanson, 2003). Research shows that the time it takes for Ritalin to reach peak brain concentration when taken intravenously, is less than ten minutes and orally, about one and one half hours. When taken by prescribed doses, it is a mild stimulant and should not lead to increases of dopamine sufficient to bring about reinforcing effects like those of cocaine and methamphetamine. In conclusion, the reinforcing effects of the drug depend on...
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