Ritalin Addiction and Abuse

Ritalin Addiction and Abuse is the subject of this Special Report by Siobahn Morse, the executive director of The National Institute for Holistic Addiction Studies.

What is Ritalin?

Ritalin is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants. They work by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

Ritalin is used as part of a treatment program to control the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactive disorder, also called ADHD.

ADHD is when an individual has more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age.

Ritalin-Addiction-Abuse

Ritalin Addiction and Abuse

Ritalin is also used to treat narcolepsy which is a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep.

What are the effects of Ritalin?

If Ritalin is used as directed by a medical doctor, it has no side effects. However, when obtained illegally and abused by recreational users, its improper use can lead to dependence and eventually addiction.

In the United States, Ritalin is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, the designation used for substances that have a recognized medical value but present a high likelihood for substance abuse because of their addictive potential.

What is Ritalin addiction and abuse?

Ritalin has a high potential for drug abuse and drug dependence due to its pharmacological similarity to cocaine and amphetamine.

The main abusers of Ritalin are teenagers and young adults, particularly those in colleges and universities who use this drug as a study aid. They may introduce this drug into their bodies through injection, snorting or smoking.

Abusers often crush the tablets before using the powder. Some will mix it with cocaine and snort it while others smoke it together with illicit substances like marijuana.

There are also those who mix the powder with water and inject it into the body.

What are the side effects of Ritalin?

In high doses for an extended period of time, the Ritalin user may experience paranoia, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Psychosis symptoms include: hearing voices, visual hallucinations, and/or ideation to harm the self or others.

What are the withdrawal symptoms of Ritalin?

Tiredness, panic attack, psychoses, irritability, extreme hunger, depression, and nightmares.

 


Ritalin Addiction and Abuse

Ritalin Addiction and Abuse

 

 

Click Here to Download a PDF version of this report.

 

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