On (27 Oct 97) MARK PROBERT wrote to ALEX VASAUSKAS...
 MP> AV>I have seen at least 70 children weaned of Ritalin. I usually
 MP> AV>recommend weaning off of Ritalin for a 2-3 week period, while
 MP> AV>administering the herbs.
 MP> "Weaning" implies addiction. Prescriptive doses of methylphenidate are
 MP> not addictive. The pharmaceutical has a serum half life of four hours.
 MP> The biggest problem that people have is remembering to take their
 MP> medication. I wonder what the motive of this critter is?
Au Contraire.  Ritalin is indeed addictive, and a patient must be weaned 
off of it, so as not to damage the nervous system.
The other "danger", if you will, of ritalin usage in children is that 
it has been noted that there is a higher than average incidence of 
later "self-medication" with cocaine, crack and methamphetamine (commonly
known as speed)
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