Report shows that usage of Ritalin in America is five times more than world usage. This is a staggering 90% of the world's Ritalin. Peter Breggin, M.D provides further insights.

- Current statistics indicate that as many as 10% of the nation's children have been diagnosed as having ADD/ADHD.
- For treating ADD/ADHD, more than 5 million are using Ritalin or other stimulant.
- Hundreds of children every year receive, or take, doses of stimulant medications that are too high, resulting in overdose.
- The possibility of overdosing is greater for children between the age of six to nine.

Parents have often been pressured to use Ritalin and other stimulants as treatment for ADD/ADHD. However, medical professionals have failed to inform parents on the dangers of these stimulants as they produce not just side effects but an array of health problems such as cardiovascular system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and more. All this will certainly be hazardous to the children's life.

Here are some of the dangers it can bring:
Cardiovascular System
Rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, and heart attack.

Central Nervous System
Altered mental status, hallucinations, convulsions, seizures, convulsions, depression, excitement, agitation, irritation, anxiety, nervousness, hostility, nervousness, compulsive behavior, tics, jerky movements, tourette's, drowsiness, confusion, lack of sleep, unhappiness, depression, over-sensitivity, decreased social interest, zombie-like mannerisms, impaired mental abilities.

Gastrointestinal
Eating disorders, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, and cramps, dry mouth, constipation, growth problems, and endocrine and metabolic disorders.

Other
Blurred vision, headaches, dizziness, excessive sweating, incontinence, fever, joint pain, blood disorders, rash, conjunctivitis, hives, skin inflammation, and hair loss.

Withdrawal and Rebound
Worsening of symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, irritability, over-activity, and stimulant 'crash'.

Effects of Ritalin is suspected to be more powerful than cocaine!

Ritalin in pill form does not produce the overwhelming effects of cocaine. However, addicts that confesses of injecting themselves with Ritalin have claimed of an effect just as worthy as cocaine. Ritalin is believed to have more effects on brain receptors than cocaine; in findings of one European study, Ritalin in pill form however does not produce the immediate rush but metabolized Ritalin occupies more dopamine receptors than cocaine.

In their clear conscience, pediatrics and ethicist have also voiced their concerns treatment without clear diagnosis that leads to usage of Ritalin as well as other stimulants to treat children who do not do well in school and adults who are failing in their careers and are procrastinators. They question the worthiness of this means of treatment.

There also have been concerns on the large discrepancies between pediatricians practice pattern and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines in assessment and treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as stated in an article in the January 2005b issue of Pediatrics. The fact that the medical community did not come to an agreement regarding how to diagnose ADD/ADHD and therefore, it is questionable that they have made a far-reaching decisions as to how to treat individuals who have been diagnosed with the disorder.

There are some necessary steps that can be taken to ensure that whenever symptoms are suspected to indicate ADD/ADHD thus providing stimulant medication as the form of treatment. This is obviously to safeguard oneself and loved ones so as to not contributing to the statistics of misdiagnosis of ADD/ADHD.

Some good rules to follow whenever ADD/ADHD might be suspected are:
- One should not settle for a single diagnosis of ADD/ADHD by any practitioner even so after a single observation alone.

- Never accept a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD on face value alone. A diagnosis that has been delivered without eliminating the possibility of another disorder, nutritional imbalance, or food allergies and sensitivities is not a real diagnosis. A real diagnosis never involves a lets-try-this-medication-and-see-if-it-helps approach.

- If ADD/ADHD is the appropriate diagnosis then medications such as stimulants should be the last choice of treatment. They should only be used after exploring other form of medication because the dangers in administering ADD/ADHD medications, especially to a child, are just far too great too risky.

- Do not fall for quick fix solution because they would usually involve medications such as stimulants. All type of quick fix fad should be perceived with suspicions.

A good decision on what medical treatment best suit oneself is one that educated individuals should be making and it is not only to safeguard yourself but your loved ones.