ADHD and Ritalin

Why do doctors over prescribe Ritalin and why do they prescribe Ritalin more than any other medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? This paper will discuss ADHD and the possible reasons Ritalin is so popularly used in this disorder.

Attention deficit disorder (ADD), or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can be debilitating and is widespread. For the most part, this condition is considered a childhood disorder. Most of the research involves children but more attention is now being given to older adolescents and adults. It is thought that ADHD lessens as children grow into adulthood. To a certain extent this is true but not in all cases.

Many adults today suffered with the problems of this disorder their whole lives. They did not know the causes of their impairments because the prevalence of this condition was not known then, and they were not diagnosed. Salter (1995) argues that "one of the main problems with ADD in adults is that cases rarely look alike--and the condition frequently looks like something else" (p. 8).

Attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has many different features and can appear in all age groups. It is treated in a number of different ways, one of the most popular being the stimulant drug, Ritalin.

Barabasz, et al (1996) provide an excellent definition of the disorder:

. . .
igures show that rapidly-increasing numbers of Alberta school children are being given mood-altering drugs to suppress their supposed hyperactive tendencies . . . Ritalin backers say the drug is a godsend for behaviourally-disturbed kids . . . Over the last several years, Ritalin use has expanded exponentially. (Parker Jr., 1994, p. 1) Ritalin is mostly given to ADHD children because theoretically, it helps control their "destructive," impulsive behaviors. Somehow, Ritalin, which is a stimulant, helps suppress hyperactivity, but how it does this is not really understood. Ritalin has experienced explosive growth in popularity. Dr. Joel Fagen, a supporter of Ritalin, feels that the reason the drug's use is eight times more than in was in the recent past is because doctor's are suddenly better at recognizing the disorder which was first discovered fifty years ago. People who speak out against the stimulant think it is so popular because school personnel "find it a handy substitute for effective discipline and teaching techniques" (Parker, 1994, p. 1). A former teacher of special needs students, Andrew Nikiforuk, who is also an author and journalist, "says Ritalin is definitely over-prescribed. Such a drug should be utilized o
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Some common words found in the essay are:
ADHD Relationships, Paradoxically Ritalin, RITALIN INTRODUCTION, Andrew Nikiforuk, ADD ADHD, Statistical Manual, RITALIN PRESCRIPTION, ADHD Barabasz, Apparently Ritalin, Joel Fagen, attention deficit, et al, barabasz et al, al 1996, behavior modification, deficit disorder, attention deficit disorder, barabasz et, et al 1996, hyperactivity disorder, pelham 1993, parker 1994, pp 1, parker 1994 1, pelham jr 1993,
Approximate Word count = 2137
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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