(If you have a gifted child, you should read this (Is It A Cheetah?) at least once!)

There are a number of people who clearly have ADHD or the equivalent to the extent of not being able to adequately function in life. This article is not intended to dismiss the use of Ritalin in all cases.

If your child is in that category (or if you are in that category), I'm sure you won't be dissuaded in any case. You'll probably also agree that the drug is being grossly overprescribed to those who do not require drug therapy!

Ritalin is a tradename for Methylphenidate hydrochloride, an antidepressant stimulant. There is no generic common name for the drug. Other antidepressant stimulants are real cocaine, novocaine, other cocaine substitutes. Ritalin is not a classic antidepressant in the sense of Prosaic.

Street names for Methylphenidate hydrochloride are "r-ball" and "vitamin r."

While children are the obvious victims here, the same message applies to adults. If you are the student, please excuse the third party ("your child") language. The message is the same!

Legally Ritalin is a Schedule II drug in the same category as opium, cocaine and morphine. (In contrast, Valium is not and its dispensing is only regulated under state laws.)
(link for email harvesting bots)

The early history of using what was then called "chemotherapy" in treatment of children includes some of the testing by Lauretta Bender related to amphetamines, LSD-25 and UML-491. This is detailed on a separate page, www.scn.org/~bk269/rball_history.html

The amazing thing about these early tests was the degree to which the experimenters were willing to use these drugs on a maintenance course of treatment (administering the drugs on a daily basis).

Skip to general information on Facing the School Administration

(on this page)

To separate page on declining to prescribe Ritalin

Parents and students now have an absolute right to decline to prescribe Ritalin under the provisions of 20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(25)

(separate webpages)

Adult use of Ritalin or any other drug is a completely different issue. If an adult takes a drug, be it a coffee, alcohol, strong pain relievers or illegal drugs, the adult is presumed to make an intelligent evaluation as to its use, benefits, counterindications and efficacy.

Confusion of the drug's efficacy with the effectiveness:

This usually takes the form of, "It has a physical effect; therefore it's indicated (as a proper form of treatment for the given condition). Not so. If it didn't have a physical effect, it would be a placebo.

• to the contrary ADD is such that if the child has it, you know it. The reason is simple - ADD is a condition where the natural tendency for distractions exceeds the ability for the child to control it. It is not the native tendency for distractions. It is not boredom in an oversized classroom.

A variation is the hocus-pocus theory:
"Ritalin is a stimulant, but in the case of ADD it calms the patient down. If the patient did not have ADD, it would have an opposite effect."
WHERE did that one come from? Not from reputable medical literature. What is this - a magic drug? This theory belongs with beads and rattles. (Ritalin is a stimulant used to calm the patient down, much as coffee relaxes people. That has little or nothing to do with the ADD condition.)

Specifically, there are some drugs and medications which have this effect. Heartworm preventative medication administered to dogs testing positive for heartworm is dangerous. (The reason is that the dying parasites of an already-infected dog can impede circulation.) Certain antimigraine drugs should only be taken prior to the headache stage of a migraine attack. But to say that a general purpose antidepressant/stimulant exhibits such qualities is at best disingenuous.

It helps school performance

Its efficacy is in reducing a tendency toward inattentiveness. This is quite distinct from skill development. It does have the advantage of making life easier for the teacher, especially in a large classroom environment.

The use of an antidepressant-stimulant is required for my child to stay in school.

Wrong.

The only thing the school administration can do is recommend professional consultation. It's up to the parent to chose a professional. Then the onus is on the school to either follow the professional's advise or legally explain why the professional is wrong.

If you chose the professional recommended by the school administrator, expect the worst.

NOTE:   As provided by the IDEA Reauthorization Act, at 20 U.S.C. §1412(a) (25) - Prohibition on mandatory medication, it is illegal for a school district to require a child to obtain a prescription for a substance covered by the Controlled Substances Act (e.g., R-ball; Adderal) as a condition for attending school. This applies to all students of a school receiving funds under IDEA, which includes all public schools. This Federal prohibition applies to all students; not just those falling under IDEA.

... from the "other side of the cloud"

The high use of Ritalin is tied to a relationship between the teacher, "Resource Room" counselors and those psychiatrists who work with the counselors.

The teacher is encouraged by the "Resource Room" counselors to send "problem" children to the counselors for analysis. If the psychiatrist doesn't return the child with a script for an antidepressant-stimulant drug, the psychiatrist doesn't get further recommendations.

Oh yes -- the "Resource Room" returns to the teacher a sedated pupil!

NOTE: " Those tactics have been made illegal by the IDEA Reauthorization Act, at 20 U.S.C. §1412(a) (25) - Prohibition on mandatory medication.
I was surprised to see that this particular section of the law appears to track the language in this webpage!

• When environmental changes (class size, food chemicals, etc.) are ineffective, then antidepressant-stimulants may be warranted. In such cases the problems become quite apparent. Drugs are never an acceptable form of punishment. Drugs are not a substitute for lack of educational facilities.

• When the prescribing physician needs a larger sailboat. (Pardon the cynicism here; your visit wouldn't quite pay for the sailboat's new GPS receiver.)

Watch Neurotypicalism Everyday in veoh.c om (link to Christschool's videos)

ADHD can coexist with some conditions, such as Asperger's Syndrone and other autsim spectrum disorders (or conditions). Ritalin will make many people in the spectrum worse, so it helps to obtain advise of an expert in AS or autism spectrum conditions first. (Generally AS itself is not "treated" with drugs or otherwise; it's a personality type!)

I had accompanied a mother at one of these meetings. I asked if they were prescribing the drugs. Since there was no qualified professional within spitting range, they dropped the suggestion. (Besides, I don't think they liked the way I was dressed -- I wore a full business suit!)

The following relates to public school systems. I believe that the incidence of administrators "prescribing" Ritalin in private schools is now rare.

With the enactment of 20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(25) - Prohibition on mandatory medication, public schools may be less aggressive about coercively "prescribing" drugs.

More on declining to prescribe Ritalin under the provisions of 20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(25) can be found at http://www.scn.org/~bk269/declineritalin.html

Be prepared with what you wish to ask for. Small class size. In-class teacher's assistant or helper. Whatever.

Small class size is often a major issue because of budgetary restraints. If the administrator objects, offer to accept an in-class assistant. Do not accept out-of-classroom sessions unless you have reason to trust the program (e.g., recommendations from other parents).

There are alternatives to drug therapy for ADD.

Natural Therapy

There are a number of approaches to this, including St. John's Wort, and others. Just search for "Ritalin AND natural" (or "+Ritalin +natural" in AltaVista and others).
Also try it spelled "Ritilin" -- on the computer; not yourself!

Coffee. Last I checked, coffee wasn't listed as a Schedule II drug.

Food chemicals

Related to natural therapy, except this simply consists of avoiding such things as artificial food colouring, nature-identical flavours, etc. Don't forget the school cafeteria under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (USA).

The effect of food additives on hyperactivity was raised again in some UK studies. This appears in a Reuter's Article (which strangely has a Washington, DC byline), dated 5 sep 07.

Class Size

Under Public Law 94-142 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (USA), a public school must provide the necessary environment to meet the child's disabilities. In almost all cases, this is either small class size or a teaching assistant. If you seek outside counseling, discuss in-class teaching assistance with the professional.

Expect the administrators to respond to a class size request in one of several ways. They may:

1. Back off. They don't want the Federal requirement for a teaching assistant or smaller class size to be invoked by an IEP (Individual Educational Plan).

2. Transfer the child to a smaller size classroom or AP (advanced placement) class. This is used for "problem children," -- except that "problem children" in this case means children whose parents know how to make the system work in their favour!

3. Make threats. They're particularly skilled at that one. Just stand your ground. (but be prepared to go to detention!) But it is possible to "cave in" by enthusiastically choosing a professional of your choice.

Time of Use

If drugs are necessary, they should be administered while supervised at home and not at school. i.e., after 3 PM! (The problem with this approach is that it doesn't give the teacher a sedated kid.)

More to the point, if it is unnecessary to drug your child after school, it is certainly unnecessary to drug your child during school.

Chose the Right Doctor

In some parts of the country there are unethical psychiatrists who routinely rubber stamp school administrators' prescriptions (or rather issue them). Take your kid to the doctor, but go to a doctor of your choosing. (Hint: use your health insurance as an excuse to override the choice of the school administrator.)

Agree Wholeheartedly

This may be the easiest approach with some backwards-thinking school districts. Then proceed to:

• Enthusiastically choose your own doctor, rather than theirs. (Can you say "Managed Health Care?") Point out that your doctor is one of the "best in the country."
  
  
• Ask the school administrators to what extent they will cooperate with your doctor's recommendations.
  
  
• Offer any suggestions from your doctor, such as smaller class size, in-classroom assistance, etc.
  
  
• Take your kid to a tutoring center. It will help the native intelligence to shine through. Also tutoring places, like their medical counterparts, make it their business to please the school. So they will make sure your child will "do well" in school.

  Under the "No Child Left Behind" Act (US), if a "Title 1 School" fails to reach its AYP goal for three years, the school can be required to pay for tutoring as supplemental services. If at all possible, either obtain vouchers or have the tutoring center to obtain the funds directly from the school district. The tutor they should know the proper procedures, and you don't want to be the arbitrator of this. From what I've seen the maximum is $2000/year, but a White House press release cites $500-$1000.

Before choosing a psychiatrist, interview them on the telephone concerning their philosophy of using drugs for children referred to them with ADD. Don't bother discussing the merits -- your sole purpose is to get their opinion on the subject.

Better yet, use a psychologist who holds a PhD or MS, rather than a psychiatrist who holds an MD. Since psychologists are not trained as MDs they

1. do not prescribe drugs
2. are disinclined to prescribe drugs through a doctor (MD), so they'll recommend a non-drug therapy if at all feasible!
3. are specifically trained to deal with behaviour and socialisation issues

If the physician fails to tell you the problems associated with the drug, xe has made another diagnosis -- that you are an idiot and cannot be allowed sufficient information to make an informed decision. Find a competitent doctor.

Also note that consultation with a psychologist (as opposed to a psychiatrist) is much less likely to later be considered a history of treatment for mental disorders!

Do not agree to any optional school testing which requires parental consent.

Use testing readily available on the outside. Use services readily available on the outside. It's cheaper than the alternative - eventually withdrawing your child from school for private or parochial school. If they think you are circumspect about their motives, you've gotten your point across!

Always chose a program which gives you control of the patient-doctor confidence privilege and which gives you control of the treatment regimen.

When I moved to Seattle it became apparent that there were substantially less kids given antidepressant-stimulants. I believe the reason is cultural:

1. The parents in Seattle are less likely to blindly accept a prescription recommendation from a school administrator.
2. There is a bias in Seattle against drugging kids.
3. If pressured to have the child treated, the parents in Seattle are more likely to go to a psychiatrist or psychologist of their own choosing.
4. Alternative remedies (e.g., naturopathy) are very much mainstream in Seattle. Naturopaths generally send back prescriptions which include such items as dietary recommendations. While special meals may be outside the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (USA), removing food colourings from the cafeteria could be deemed a reasonable request. (At present the Berkley, Calif. School District is offering an all-organic meal option!)
5. Finally, the Kurt Cobain tragedy is a too close in the minds of Seattle parents. (The lead singer of Nirvana was a Ritalin child who eventually succumbed to heroin abuse and suicide.)

Connecticut is the first state in the US to pass a law to prevent schools from "prescribing" Ritalin and other psychiatric drugs. The law was unanimously passed by the legislature and signed into law in June, 2001.

The measure does not prevent school officials from recommending medical evaluation, but it is intended to make sure that the first mention of drugs for a behaviour or learning problem comes from a doctor.

Article

In August, 2002, parents in Albany, NY have used the Connecticut policy (or perhaps the information on this webpage) to persuade their schoolboard to implement a similar policy.

The IDEA Reauthorization Act, at 20 U.S.C. §1412(a) (25) - Prohibition on mandatory medication now accomplishes the same thing nationally.

Just don't do it. The quieter classroom just isn't worth what you're doing to the kids.

• Increased Likelihood of Drug Use
  Children administered antidepressant-stimulants are three times more likely to become cocaine users. The reasons are speculative but:
  1. The threshold of taking antidepressant-stimulants is already crossed.

  2. The prescription antidepressant-stimulant becomes a "starter drug" for street antidepressant-stimulants (e.g., cocaine).

  3. The kid become familiar with taking drugs for their effect on mood.

  4. The message that "it's not okay to 'get wasted'" on street drugs but it's okay if the drug is given for the benefit of the teacher eventually becomes hypocritical. Explain it away, but the basic contradiction will remain.

  5. It's possible that an ADD child will automatically (3:1 probability) become a cocaine user but this has nothing to do with taking antidepressant-stimulants. This contradicts basic logic but it is a possible explanation.

• Antidepressant-stimulants are addictive.
  This is different from heroin and nicotine addiction but there is now considered to be little question that antidepressant-stimulants are addictive. This includes prescription antidepressant-stimulants (e.g., Ritalin), cocaine, crack cocaine and similar drugs.

• Possible Future Job Consequences

  The U.S. Armed Forces will not accept candidates who have been on Ritalin unless:

  1. the candidate has been off the drug for a prescribed period of time; and
  2. the candidate can prove that the underlying condition has been "cured"

  ADHD by itself is not likely to be a disqualifying condition.
  

  Current FAA policy considers Ritalin to be a disqualifying drug for pilots. See FAA Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners ch. 3, item 47. Waivers for past Ritalin use are granted by the Chief Medical Examiner. See also article by Dr. Silberman in The Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin þ Winter 1997.

A choice of Ritalin treatment and No therapy at all is a "false dichotomy" (sometimes called "horns of the dilemma"). The "false dichotomy" states that one must either drug the student or ignore the issues.

In some cases, one of these extremes makes (some) sense. In many cases, the student has ADHD issues, but is not at the point of inability to function. This suggests that there are usually intermediate steps that can be taken to address issues.

Addressing school issues can be either generalized or in the framework of an Public Law 94-142 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (USA)

Links - resources, netlists, information

Is It A Cheetah? by Stephanie S. Tolan ("required reading" for any parent of a gifted child)

Why I Posted this Website ("What's the Matter Here" - lyrics by Natale Merchant)

site first posted 2000 -- rev 22-Jan-10 -- This page copyright 2000, 2005, Stan Protigal

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