JANE KELLEY was thinking about Ritalin and keyed into cyberspace:
JK>MP>JK>My daughter adopted a girl who has had a recognized seizure
JK>MP>JK>disorder for some years.  The local school keeps trying to play
JK>MP>JK>doctor and insist that she be given Ritalin.  They even have
JK>MP>JK>some test they say will show the need for this drug.
JK>MP>Schools should not diagnose. They should teach.
JK>Our schools aren't doing a decent job of either one these days,
JK>according to what I see on TV.  We need to overhaul the entire school
JK>system.
On that, you'll get no argument from me.
JK>MP>JK>For those who give a damn, the following: MP>JK>"DEA Press
JK>Release", October 20, 1995 on Methylphenidate (Ritalin) at
JK>MP>JK>http:://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr951020.htm.
JK>MP>Note: this report is political, and not medical.
JK>I'd say that is false.  It warns againsts the perils of using that
JK>drug from a federal agency that is concerned with drug addiction,
JK>among other things.  Many high school students are abusing Ritalin,
JK>the new drug of choice for them.
You can say it is false, but you would be wrong. It is contrary to the 
underlying report that DEA filed with its congressional oversight 
committee.
High school students prefer marijuana. Ritalin does not give a good 
"high".
JK>MP>JK>"Abuse of MPH can lead to marked tolerance and severe psychic
JK>MP>JK>dependence."
JK>MP>Proper use of MPH can lead to a successful life.
JK>In very few cases.  The long term effects of that drug are just
JK>beginning to be known to be very harmful.  I would not want any child
JK>I know to be on it without the blessing of the neurologists
JK>associated with the University of Washington.
In most cases where MPH is used, the child does have a far more 
successful life than if it were not used.
As for the long term effects, could you cite them? Can you provide 
supporting epidemiological studies to show that the "long term effects" 
are not just someone's vivid imagination? 
I'll help you out. One of the things I do is study epidemiology and I 
have an extensive library as well as sources in CDC, etc. There are no 
studies. It is a lie.
JK>And, it was one of those who said that my grandaughter should not
JK>have the Ritalin.
And just why did the neurologist say that? Because she does not have 
ADHD?
JK>MP>JK>"MPH is abused by diverse segments of the population, from
JK>MP>JK>health care professions and children to street addicts."
JK>MP>Ditto.
JK>MP>JK>"In 1994, a national high school survey (Monitoring the Future)
JK>MP>JK>indicated that more seniors in the U.S. abuse Ritalin than are
JK>MP>JK>prescribed Ritalin legitimately."
JK>MP>Interesting study. It had an accuracy rating of +/- 20%.
JK>MP>JK>"The U.S. manufactures and consumes 5-times more MPH than the
JK>MP>JK>rest of the world combined."
JK>MP>So what? Perhaps we in the US knows what we are doing and we are
JK>MP>properly treating our citizens.
JK>I doubt that very much.  We also have the lowest SAT scores of any so
JK>called civilized nation which proves that drugging kids won't make
JK>them learn any better in school.
Jane, we are the only country in the world that administers the SAT. As 
for kids who are medicated learning better, absolutely! Happens all the 
time.
JK>MP>JK>"Every indicator available, including scientific abuse
JK>MP>JK>liability studies, actual abuse, paucity of scientific studies
JK>MP>JK>on possible adverse effects associated with long=term use of
JK>MP>JK>stimulants, divergent prescribing practices of U.S. physicians,
JK>MP>JK>and lack of concurrent medical treatment and follow-up, urge
JK>greater caution and MP>JK>more restrictive use of MPH."
JK>Why is a Federal agency coming out against the abuse of this drug?
JK>Could it be that there is a very good reason, that it has been
(Continued next message...)
               The Few. The Proud. The Chosen.
                     markprobe@aol.com
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