The sobering facts on Ritalin: Not the answer in 1995 and still not the answer in 2002 by Gary Kohls - Response by Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD:
Thanks, Gary.
Though Ritalin is usually presented as a mild stimulant, the DEA Background Paper on Methylphenidate,October, 1995: "Methylphenidate is a Schedule II stimulant whis is structurally and pharmacologically similar to the amphetamines." Also: p 6: " Methylphenidate is a Schedule II cental nervous system (CNS) stimulant and shares many of the pharmacologic effects of amphetamine, methamphetamine and cocaine." While saying it is dangerous, the DEA, like the FDA continue to this day to say "An abundance of literature indicates that methylphenidate is effective in the symsptomatic management of narcolepsy and ADHD." They, the FDA and the INCB say this without ever saying what ADHD is, knowing full-well it has never been validated as a disease. Without saying what it is they say it is something needing treatment with this addictive drug, implying it is an abnormality, a disease. ----- ]

From: Gary Kohls

To: gkohls@cpinternet.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 3:30 PM

Subject: Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter # 28: Sobering facts from the DEA about Ritalin use and abuse

Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter # 28:

The sobering facts on Ritalin: Not the answer in 1995 and still not the answer in 2002

U.S. Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, 1995
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

1.Ritalin is a Schedule II stimulant, structurally and pharmacologically similar to amphetamines and cocaine and has the same dependency profile of cocaine and other stimulants.

2.Ritalin produces amphetamine and cocaine-like reinforcing effects including increased rate of euphoria and drug liking. Treatment with Ritalin in childhood predisposes takers to cocaine’s reinforcing effects.

3.In humans, chronic administration of Ritalin produced tolerance and showed cross-tolerance with cocaine and amphetamines.

4.Ritalin is chosen over cocaine in self-administered preference studies in non-human primates.

5.Ritalin produces behavioral, physiological and reinforcing effects similar to amphetamines.

6.Ritalin substitutes for cocaine and amphetamines in scientific studies.

7.Children medicated with Ritalin who tried cocaine reported higher levels of drug dependence than those who had not used Ritalin.

8.Ritalin abuse is neither benign nor rare in occurrence and is accurately described as producing severe dependence.

9.Sweden removed Ritalin from its market in 1968 because of widespread abuse.

10.More high school seniors were abusing Ritalin than those taking it medically prescribed.

11.Side-effects of Ritalin: increased blood pressure, heart rate, respirations and temperature; appetite suppression, weight loss, growth retardation; facial tics, muscle twitching, central nervous system stimulation, euphoria, nervousness, irritability and agitation, psychotic episodes, violent behavior, paranoid delusions, hallucinations, bizarre behaviors, heart arrhythmias, palpitations and high blood pressure; tolerance and psychological dependence and death

12.Ritalin will affect normal children and adults the same as those with attention and behavior problems. Effectiveness of Ritalin is not diagnostic.

13.CHADD, non-profit organization, which promotes the use of Ritalin, receives a great deal of money from the drug manufacturer of Ritalin. CHADD does not inform its members of the abuse problems of Ritalin. CHADD portrays the drug as a benign, mild stimulant that is not associated with abuse or serious side effects. Statements by CHADD are inconsistent with scientific literature.

14.The International Narcotics Control Board expressed concern that CHADD is actively lobbying for the use of Ritalin in children.

15.Ritalin is one of the top ten drugs involved in drug thefts and is being abused by health professionals as well as street addicts.

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