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Here are experts' opinions on how these drugs work on the brain, whether
they're safe, and what's known about long-term consequences. The experts are:
Harold Koplewicz, M.D., director for the New York University Child Study Center;
Russell Barkley, professor of psychiatry and neurology at University of
Massachusetts Medical Center; Xavier Castellanos, M.D., a top ADHD scientist;
Lawrence Diller, M.D., author of Running on Ritalin; Denver
psychiatrist William Dodson, M.D.; and Peter Jensen, M.D., director of
Columbia University's Center for the Advancement of Children's Mental
Health.
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On average, two to three students in U.S. classrooms are on some kind of
behavior-modifying drugs--and the numbers are increasing. Why? Here are the
views of Harvey Parker, child psychologist and founder of Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD), an advocacy group; Harold
Koplewicz, M.D., director for the New York University Child Study Center; Russell
Barkley, professor of psychiatry and neurology at University of Massachusetts
Medical Center; Peter Jensen, M.D., director of Columbia University's
Center for the Advancement of Children's Mental Health; and Denver psychiatrist
William Dodson, M.D.
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In this excerpt from Running on Ritalin: A Physician Reflects on Children, Society, and Performance in a Pill, Dr. Lawrence Diller describes the
process of determining proper dosage, how long Ritalin's effects last, and
possible side effects and other considerations.
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In December 1999, the Archives of General Psychiatry published the
initial results of the most comprehensive study of treatment strategies for
ADHD ever undertaken. The NIMH-sponsored study compared the treatment outcomes
for almost 600 ADHD children at eight sites across the U.S., and found that
stimulant medication treatment--alone or in combination with behavioral
therapy--was more effective at treating ADHD symptoms than behavioral therapy
alone.
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Here are some details on a National Institute of Mental Health study, launched
in 2001, which is designed to help determine if Ritalin is effective, and safe, for very young children. Although very little is known about the short- or long-term effects of stimulant medications on this age group, prescription rates for them are rising dramatically.
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Clinicians who choose to medicate ADHD children have several options. Here's a
list of the most commonly prescribed medications, along with the manufacturer,
generic name, drug type, and an estimate of how long the drug stays in a
child's system.
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Ritalin and other psychostimulant drugs used to treat ADHD, such as Dexedrine
and Adderall, are regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration because
they're considered to be potential drugs of abuse. Here is a range of
statistics on the problem of non-medical use of Ritalin and other
amphetamine-type drugs.
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In little more than a decade, production levels and prescription rates for
stimulant medication to treat ADHD have skyrocketed. Data collected by the
U.S. Drug Enforcment Administration (DEA) indicates that the level of usage is
inconsistent across American communities.
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