Becoming Aware of Ritalin’s Danger

Drug counselors say most parents of young people taking Ritalin (methylphenidate) aren’t aware of the potential for abuse.

Nor are many U.S. doctors and pharmacists, who just last week were sent letters from Ritalin maker Ciba-Geigy warning them to exert greater control over the medication. A company representative said the action was taken in response to reports that legitimately prescribed Ritalin is being diverted for black-market sales to students who abuse the drug.

If snorted or taken in larger-than-therapeutic doses, methylphenidate can cause tremors, hypertension, even stroke, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Children taking prescribed doses usually do not become dependent, but those taking it illegally can become psychologically dependent, the DEA said. And there’s a small possibility that they may move onto other drugs, including cocaine.

The buyers are hardly urban: The top 10 states for amounts prescribed per 100,000 residents include Idaho, New Hampshire and Alaska.

Those who work with children taking methylphenidate say parents need to keep a tight lid on when and how the pills go out. If the student needs a second dose during the school day, talk to the school nurse and make sure she watches the drug being swallowed. Even better, bypass the school altogether and administer a timed-release pill in the morning.

If you suspect your child is abusing methylphenidate, ask your doctor to run a blood test.

Talk to your child about methylphenidate abuse and suggest what to do if he or she is approached by another child asking for a pill.