The Debate Over Ritalin Use by Children with ADHD

1. Introduction For years, the topic of Ritalin, the use of the drug and its short and long term effects has been a controversial one. People who have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have abnormally low amounts of the neurotransmitting chemical Dopamine in their brains. This chemical plays an important role in the brain as it helps with signal transmission between the neurons. ADHD sufferers have difficulty concentrating and learning, they find it difficult to sit still and are often overly energetic. They get distracted very easily and struggle to focus and complete a task at hand. Ritalin helps reduce these symptoms as it stimulates the production of more dopamine in the brain. This gives for better signal transmission†¦show more content†¦2.2 Ritalin and the Risks of Substance Abuse Matthew Shulman U.S. news journalist, March 2008 This source is a report on the study conducted by Harvard researchers. A U.S. News journalist (Schulman) spoke with Brian Doyle, a clinical professor of Psychology at Georgetown University Medical Center and fellow of the American College of Psychologists, about the results obtained from a study he helped conduct. Doyle shared that children with ADHD who use Ritalin or other stimulant medications have a significantly lower chance of developing substance abuse problems during their adolescent years. However, the latest studies, including one that has been running for 19 years, show that although the stimulant drugs seem to lower the chances of substance abuse in adolescents, its effects of lowering ones chances are gone by the time the patient reaches adulthood (early 20’s). He stated that after 10 years of research on the same group of Ritalin users, no link was found between the use of the stimulant in children and later drug abuse problems. The information is valid and useful as the researchers who conducted the study are professionals on the topic as they have been working on many different studies on the topic for a number of years. The one study was carried out for 19 years. This makes the results more reliable and valid. The limitations of thisShow MoreRelatedAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Ritalin, and the Brain1606 Words   |  7 PagesAttention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Ritalin, and the Brain Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly referred to as simply ADHD, is the most commonly diagnosed disorder among American children today. According to the National Institute on Mental Health an estimated 3 to 5 percent of school age children are affected by this disorder. (1) There are more diagnosed cases of ADHD of in the United States than there are anywhere in the world. 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