The Negative Effects of Ritalin Out Weigh the Benefits - Essay Example

The Negative Effects of Ritalin Out weigh the Benefits College There is much debate over what drugs are good or children, and which ones should never be given to them. Ritalin is an example of the latter. Parents and children dealing with attention deficit disorders should be given alternatives to the easy fix of mood altering, addictive medications. Introduction Many children suffer from ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder) in the United States. One of the most common ways to treat these children is to prescribe drugs, like Ritalin, to control behaviors and mood swings. Ritalin, however, is not the most effective way to treat ADD and ADHD. This essay, then, will discuss what Ritalin is, what its side effects are, why it is still being used, and what alternatives parents have to medicating their children. What is Ritalin According to www.ritalinsideeffects.net, Ritalin is a Schedule II substance also called methylphenidate. It is not tested in children under the age of six. "In 1998, 26,800 prescriptions were issued for Ritalin. Last year, that figure had grown to 461,000" (Sale, 2008). There is much evidence that many children who take it are simply being over-medicated, since the medication shows no signs of helping them. Some parents, however, don't know what else to do when ADD or ADHD affects their children Side Effects The side effects of Ritalin are well documented. They include skin rash, fever, anorexia, nausea, increased or decreased blood pressure, chest pain, abdominal pain, irregular heart rhythm, weight loss, anemia, and difficulty sleeping (www.ritalinsideeffects.net, para. 2). Ritalin is also addictive, and easy to abuse (Rasminsky, 2008). Older students admitted that sometimes they take the prescriptions of other people, or more than they are prescribed, to "get loads done in a concentrated period of time" (Rasminsky, 2008). These kids also suffer from fainting, diarrhea, decreased libido, and, possibly, death (Rasminsky, 2008) because Ritalin is such a strong stimulant when used properly, let alone when it is abused. One student in the Rasminsky essay admitted that she took Ritalin out of desperation to complete five papers in a two-day period. She said she only used once, but knows others who "can't stop after that first drug experience or that first A" (Rasminsky, 2008). Another admits, "You feel horrible coming down. All the reasons you're taking drugs are so amplified. It makes you depressed, so that's why you want to do more. It's a vicious cycle" (Rasminsky, 2008). Rasminsky is careful to point out that an electrocardiogram (EKG) is necessary when taking Ritalin because of the negative effect it has on the heart and the likelihood that sudden death could occur from cardiovascular death. Positive Effects There is no doubting that there might be some benefit in Ritalin for some child. A study was done of an 11-year-old boy. He'd been diagnosed with ADHD two years prior by his physician, but not given medication. During the study, he was given 20 mg of Ritalin on some mornings, but not on others. Every day he received a pill that looked exactly the same, so he had no way of know when he received the placebo and when he received the actual medicine. Someone administered the medicine other than the teachers or the observers, so the observations would not be biased. His behavior was monitored for the first four hours of the day. The study lasted three weeks. In the end, the findings showed that the student was much more focused, and well behaved on the days he received the 20 mg dosage of Ritalin (Smith et al.) This is no ace-in the-hole, however. This is one student. This student had an above average I.Q. There is no data to suggest how well Ritalin works on students of average intelligence. The student was only observed for 15 days and plenty of other studies show that Ritalin does seem to be effective in the beginning stages, but the faade quickly ends. The next step is to increase the dosage, which leads to an increased chance of dependency (www.ritalinsideeffects.net, para. 4). Even the authors write that there is "difficulty involved with the use of only one participant" (Smith et al., 2004). Translation: A good study cannot be based on the use of one subject. These findings may have been beneficial for their intended purpose, and may have even been helpful to the parents of this one little boy, but unlikely to be of much use to the academic community at large. Alternatives With evidence so overwhelming out of favor toward Ritalin, why is its use increasing The best answer is that many parents simply don't see any other way. When a child is said to be a behavior problem, especially by school authorities, parents get scared and think that if they don't comply they will have to miss work for suspensions that will occur, or that the children will grow up and ultimately become unsuccessful adults because they didn't get what they needed in school. Parents are scared. Parents do, however, have choices. First, parents have the option of getting educated about what their choices are. Since "Ritalin is said to have no impact on one-third of the children who take it new clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and management of ADHD could significantly change prescribing practices (Sale, 2008). "The guidelines recommend training and education programs for parents and caregivers of children and young people with the condition, as well as psychological interventions for the children themselves" (Sale, 2008). Basically, there is a recognized need to do something different than what is being done. Instead of doctors throwing medicine at parents, they will be required to properly educate parents, and have real discussions with the children in an effort to get to the root of the problems. These are opportunities all parents haven't been given, to date, but ones that should definitely be taken advantage of in the best interest of the children. Andrea Bilbow, chief executive of the Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service runs a two-day program called Why Try. Its goal is to teach parents why and how children can be helped without medication. She believes, "You need to educate parents about the child condition so they can understand their child and not put more pressure on them because there is only so much information that child can have in their brain" (Sale, 2008), Bilbow speaks from personal experience, as a parent of an ADHD child. She added, "The non-medical intervention deals with the whole person. Medication deals only with the mechanics of the condition" (Sale, 2008). Other interventions vary widely. Some believe that ADD and ADHD can be decreased with proper diet and nutrition. One website discusses a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry that reveals that malnutrition is the leading cause of aggression in children (www.shirleys-wellness-caf.com, para. 1). On the site, Dr. Lendon Smith agreed that children brought to him for behavioral issues were treated with diet and nutritional supplements, making the Ritalin no longer necessary (www.shirleys-wellness-caf.com, para. 5). The website also posits that fast food and chemically treated, man-made foods have never been shown to be safe for long-term consumption, yet it is what are children are eating (www.shirleys-wellness-caf.com, para. 7). If our children get the proper vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need, and we decrease the processed foods and excessive sugars they don't, they are less likely to demonstrate aggressive behaviors that are linked to ADD and ADHD diagnoses. Conclusion Obviously, there may be a small group of children for whom Ritalin is appropriate. Largely, however, the medication is over-prescribed. Children need physicians who will look at their problems more individually, and design solutions specific to them. Parents need more awareness so that they can become advocates for a drug-free environment for their children. If drugs are absolutely necessary, it should be a short-term solution, and closely monitored, so dependency doesn't develop, and abuse doesn't happen. The best solution is one that leaves children free of all ingested chemicals, especially when there is a plethora of evidence to show that something as simple as diet and exercise might be the way to go. References Rasminsky, A. (2008, September). HIGH AND MIGHTY. Dance Spirit, 12(7), 116-118. Retrieved December 13, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Sale, A. (2008, October 16). Ritalin: There is an alternative. Community Care, Retrieved December 13, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database. Smith, R., Larsen, D., Derby, K., McLaughlin, T., Weber, K., Brown, K., et al. (2004, February). A comparison of teacher checklists used over 15 days and a one-day antecedent analysis to conduct a medication trial. Psychology in the Schools, 41(2), 235-240. Retrieved December 13, 2008, from Academic Search Complete databasse. Study indicates nutritional deficiencies lead to aggression and violence in children. Why to avoid Ritalin Read More