Street Names
 | Vitamin R
| R-Ball
| Smart drug
Description
Ritalin is a prescription drug that doctors give to people, mostly
children, with "hyper-activity" or attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Ritalin is brand name for the
stimulant--Methyalphenidate hydrochloride.
Use
The use of Ritalin involves kids crushing it and snorting it.
Dangers and Effects
Ritalin abuse by people who don't need it can cause damage to the
nervous system. There's also a strong possibility that abusing
Ritalin can cause liver cancer, blood clots, infections, and skin
and circulatory problems when snorted or injected.
CNN News Alert: Ritalin abuse scoring high on college illegal
drug circuit
There's a popular drug on the streets with nicknames such as
"Vitamin R" and "R-Ball" that's making its way
into the college scene. But it's not for kicks -- students use this
drug to improve concentration and study longer.
The drug is Ritalin, a mild stimulant commonly prescribed for young
children to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
But on U.S college campuses, students are popping Ritalin without a
doctor's prescription -- which is illegal -- before taking on
all-night study sessions or to boost alertness during an important
test.
"People find this drug enticing because they can get their
academic work done quicker or do more in a shorter period of
time," said Dr. Eric Heiligenstein, of the University of
Wisconsin. "So for students who have put off work or are not
very strong academically, we find some are using it to kind of
counteract or remedy their problems."
It's not just college kids who are turning to Ritalin. New reports
suggest there is a growing trend of Ritalin abuse among younger
teens or even adults bent on getting more done at work or keeping
with today's fast-paced lifestyle.
Federal drug officials said Ritalin is among the top controlled
prescription drugs reported stolen in the United States. The Drug
Enforcement Administration also lists methylphenidate, Ritalin's
generic name, among a dozen or so "drugs of concern."
There are health concerns surrounding this trend. Ritalin can
increase a person's heart rate and blood pressure, among other
problems.
"What it means, in rare situations, is the person is put at
risk primarily for a cardiac arrhythmia," said Dr. Lawrence
Diller, author of "Running on Ritalin." "Then there's
irregular beating of the heart -- which can cause sudden
death."
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