Today’s world seems to have a large portion of our children on mind-altering drugs like Ritalin. Are our youth really in that much health distress that we need to drug them up so often and for so many years? Health Canada estimates that there has been an increase in Ritalin use of 547% since 1990. There is growing controversy in society about the use of such drugs, and in my opinion, it is justified.
Ritalin is a stimulant and is in a group of drugs that are considered addictive drugs. If you believe that this drug cannot or will not hurt your child, you have been misinformed.
Side effects of Ritalin include: depression, social withdrawal, irritability, increased weepiness, memory problems, anxiety, tension, agitation, the Zombie Effect, less feeling and spontaneity, some danger of cancer, sadness, headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, stomach pain, dry mouth, growth suppression, anemia, skin rashes, stiff joints, peeling skin, palpitations, hair pulling, and twitches.
Organ systems that are affected are cardiovascular, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, and endocrine (hormonal).
Toxic psychosis (hallucinations) can result.
Do you remember the shooting and killing that occurred in Columbine High School in the United States? Right now, a lawsuit is in the courts from the families of the victims against the drug company Sulvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. The lawsuit claims that this violent act was because of the drugs the shooter was taking for ADHD. They also claim that there is also a connection between other high school shootings and these drugs.
Placing children on mind-altering drugs will no doubt grow in controversy. The FDA has admitted that the controlled studies used to put drugs on the market are too short, too small in patient numbers and too limited in the range of patients and clinical conditions to rule out all potentially adverse reactions.
My opinion is that Ritalin, and drugs like it are very dangerous, and I do not believe for a second that they are safe and okay for children to take. If you are interested in learning about natural methods to help children with ADHD, ask us.