Talking Back to Ritalin

Talking Back to Ritalin, Peter R. Breggin MD, Common Courage Press, 1998
Several million children are being treated with Ritalin and other stimulants because they have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, the symptoms of which include hyperactivity or inattention. Such drugs are simply mild stimulants that correct a chemical imbalance in the brain. Sounds safe and reasonable for children, right?

Very wrong, according to Breggin. There is no solid evidence that ADD is a genuine disease or disorder of any kind. A large percentage of children on stimulants become robotic, depressed or withdrawn. Ritalin is addictive and is a common drug of abuse among children and adults. Short and long term, Ritalin has no positive effect on a child's psychology, or on any other aspect of their lives. Ritalin can cause permanent neurological tics like Tourette's Syndrome. There is a lot of scientific confirmation that ADD-like symptoms are caused by environmental problems.

If Ritalin is so harmful, why is it prescribed so often? Parents who are terrified that their children are not exactly normal listen too readily to doctors and psychiatrists who may or may not know any better. Parents also listen to teachers and school administrators who seem to think that Students = Robots. There are also the drug companies who also seem to put profit ahead of anything else, and federal agencies more interested in easing the way for the drug companies than in doing any actual regulating.

For parents of any child who has been diagnosed with ADD, or children who seem to be a candidate for such a diagnosis, this book is Very Highly Recommended.