Ritalin

            The messy brown hair that flows so wildly around his head be just a clue at how he feels inside. He is a seven year old kid and has already had to repeat a grade. He has an imagination that puts other kids to shame, but nothing seems to hold his attention for more than five minutes. He is one of millions across the world diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, or what we call ADD.
             This scene is all too familiar for individuals who discover that they, too, have this learning disorder as they move through elementary school to college. And in today's society we want a "quick fix" to remedy our problems. Therefore doctors are prescribing the drug, Ritalin, to control ADD. Although Ritalin is a widely used drug to control ADD, there are other safer alternatives to combat this worldwide disorder. ADD has recently stormed the market for illegal sale of Ritalin to be used as a drug.
             The vast array of issues resulting from the prescribing of Ritalin much outweighs the benefits the people receive from the pill. Ritalin, like many other drugs, has several side effects, some of which are severe. Ritalin is in a class of drugs called Methylphetamines. These types of drugs affect our central nervous system, which controls everything from thought process to everyday breathing. Ritalin's major side effects influence the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system, and the gastrointestinal system. Also, Ritalin is a fairly new drug, which was introduced in the early eighties. It hasn't been around long enough to study the long-term effects. This makes for a very dangerous combination and is why this medication is greatly disapproved by many people and groups of society.
             Also since Ritalin is a Methylphetamine (closely related to the amphetamine family, known mostly as cocaine and speed), it has a high rate of abuse. This drug is abused in two ways. One way is for recreational purposes. The abusers use the drug as a form of speed to pick themselves up.