The Controversy of Stimulant Use
There are two major stimulants that have been surrounded by a great deal of controversy. One is methylphenidate (commonly known as RitalinŽ) the other is amphetamine (mainly considered to be AdderallŽ and DexedrineŽ). The main controversy surrounding these drugs is connected with the most popular prescription use. These drugs both are prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which is primarily diagnosed in children.
The drugs themselves are considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as powerful stimulants. Given the abuse potential of these drugs and their highly addictive nature, they are classified as Schedule II drugs and have been such since 1971. Regardless of one's views concerning ADHD, and the prescribing of stimulants to children for such a condition, there are several key factors which should be known before even considering putting a child on drugs.
Absence of Long-term Studies
As covered elsewhere on this website the truth about drugs is that all drugs are poisons and the amount taken determines the effect. Stimulants fall very much into this generalized categorization. The problem with prescribing stimulants to children is there are limited studies that show the long-term effects of children on stimulants. In other words, your doctor, the pharmaceutical company, the FDA, DEA, APA or AMA, nor anyone else knows the full ramifications of what the long-term effects will be on any child taking Ritalin, Adderall or any other stimulant. However, there are common traits known about long-term stimulant abuse. As children diagnosed with ADHD are often prescribed drugs for years at a time, the long-term studies become all the more necessary.
What is known is that since 1990 poison control and emergency room data and high school surveys show that abuse of these drugs in schools have increased significantly. It is also known that the expansive use (and promotion via doctors) of children being prescribed drugs for behavioral disorders, although spreading and popular in nations like France, is overall a different medical methodology than the rest of the world. The medical profession use and prescribing of stimulants for children in the U.S. continues to escalate.
The DEA notes, " a number of questionable practices have contributed to the diversion and abuse of stimulant medication including improper diagnosis, lack of adequate information to youth, parents, and schools regarding the abuse potential of these drugs and lax handling of medication".
As prescriptions of stimulants for children skyrocket so does the production of these drugs and the profits to manufacturers. More than 20 million schoolchildren have now been diagnosed with "mental disorders" and prescribed Schedule II drugs. As children are our future and will be the ones around running things when we reach our older years the social concerns of medically prescribing stimulants to children are a whole other facet to this issue. Prior to 1987 this massive medicating of children was not the case, as the key disorder that requires drugs as a treatment, ADHD had not yet been voted into existence by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). After the APA committee members met and voted ADHD to be included in their diagnostic manual (DSM) within a year 500,000 children suddenly had the disorder and needed medication. These statistical facts alone clarify the DEA's concern regarding "improper diagnosis".
How Prescribed Stimulants Lead to Addiction
As noted above, stimulant addiction is a key form of addiction in high schools today. Drug abuse cannot be solved by flooding more drugs into schools, whether they be through the nurses office or from the street. When a child or teen takes a stimulant they are taking a drug. As stimulants are already highly addictive they are labeled Schedule II as they have a very high potential for abuse. It is no mystery that children who take them become addicts. The drug itself is known to have the effect of physical dependency, thus the label "Schedule II". Whether the drug is given from a street drug dealer or from the school nurse or a doctor, the effect is the same. A child or person on a Schedule II drug will sooner or later crave that drug on a mental and physical basis.
The drugs are made "ok to take" by the fact the children are given them. That the drug gets sold or passed around to other students could only be expected. Children often share things among each other. However, in this case, it is not only potentially deadly, but, a lack of adequate education on what drugs are and do make taking a drug an acceptable practice. It is even noted the false idea "because it is a prescription it is safer than 'street drugs'" is a primary concern of the DEA in its public drug education campaigns.
The step to stimulant addiction is taken with the first dose. The drug itself is known to be addictive. The more times it is taken the higher the chances are someone will become addicted.
The Solution to Stimulant Addiction
Narconon has been dealing with stimulant addiction for years and its staff understands the stimulant drug addict. Many students arriving to the Narconon drug rehabilitation program started their drug use in high school. Ritalin was just as easy to obtain as any street drug, even more so. However, coming to Narconon was their first step in undoing years of drug addiction.
The reason Narconon is so effective as a drug rehabilitation program is that its technology was not developed by or based on the medical model. Instead the program was developed through strict scientific methodology that was more concerned with "does it work effectively and safely" than does it agree with existing opinion. The program would not be possible without a true understanding of people and what a drug addict is really having trouble with. The program is based on the principle that the individual is responsible for his own condition and that anyone can improve their condition if they are given the correct and workable way to do so.
There is a correct way to free someone from drug addiction. Narconon is such a program with 45 years of successful drug-free graduates.