As a parent, it is normal to dismiss some of your children’s disorderly conduct or misbehavior. You might consider both to be part of your children’s lack of maturity. So, in many cases, you might dismiss traits such as impatience, a difficulty in dealing with delayed gratification, or a tendency to interrupt others.
But, if professionals diagnose a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), he or she may need therapy and medication. One commonly prescribed drug for ADHD is the stimulant drug Ritalin.
What is Ritalin?
You may have heard of this drug when people reference it in American pop culture, but if you have not, Ritalin is a drug that stimulates the brain and the central nervous system (CNS). Ritalin produces a calming effect that helps an individual focus on a specific task.
How does Ritalin work?
Also known by the generic name methylphenidate, Ritalin is a drug that is a brain and central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It is called a stimulant or a psychostimulant because it increases the neurotransmitters responsible for increasing focus and brain activity.
The drug also helps enhance concentration, which is why people without ADHD sometimes use the drug. Aside from ADHD and narcolepsy, Ritalin is also used for chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.
What does Ritalin look like?
Ritalin tablets usually come in different colors, mostly often in pale green or pale yellow. People might disguise it as a vitamin tablet or even candy, which makes it easier to misuse. People might bring it along anywhere and consume it like a piece of candy.
Ritalin abuse sometimes occurs among high school and college students. Abuse of the drug may produce cardiovascular problems, which may lead to heart attacks, strokes, and even death. Many of the problems begin with sudden changes in heart rhythm. While these side effects do not always occur, abusing Ritalin exposes the human body to great risks.
Is it possible for Ritalin addiction to occur? Is it as addictive as other prescription medications or illicit (illegal) drugs such as cocaine? The truth is, Ritalin may be as addictive and dangerous as other prescription medications or illegal drugs. Because it increases dopamine levels in the brain, using Ritalin may be habit-forming and lead to addiction.
Signs and Effects of Ritalin Abuse
If someone told you that there is a medication that may boost your alertness and concentration levels immensely, it might sound very attractive to you. After all, who would not want to have laser-sharp focus when performing particular tasks, or even just enjoy such focus in everyday situations?
People also abuse Ritalin because it produces short-term effects. Users only feel the effects of Ritalin for one to four hours. People who feel that this drug helps keep them focused might want to prolong those feelings, which could make them consume more and more Ritalin as time passes. Before they know it, their consumption may become an alarming habit.
There are a number of negative side effects that may occur from taking too much Ritalin. Such side effects include anxiety, headaches, spikes in blood pressure, and suppressed appetites, which may lead to dramatic weight loss. In some cases, seizures and hallucinations may also occur.
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Long Term Effects of Ritalin Abuse
Like other synthetic drugs that are abused and misused, Ritalin addiction can create long-term effects. This puts everyone who uses it in danger, including young children who are prescribed high doses of it when they are not aware of how it will affect their bodies in the long run.
According to one study, one long-term side effect of Ritalin dependence and addiction is a decreased amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain as an individual enters adulthood. GABA is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is responsible for calming anxiety and promoting relaxation.
Decreases in GABA levels may lead to unpleasant repercussions such as panic attacks, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. In some cases, such decreases may lead to dependency on other substances such as alcohol and profound depression.
In fact, some of the most detrimental long-term effects of Ritalin abuse are psychological effects. People may experience sudden changes in mood. One minute a person may be a ray of sunshine, then become a ball of hate and negativity the next. Such mood changes may contribute to depression and suicide.
Using and abusing Ritalin may also be dangerous for people who are already genetically predisposed to mental illness. If people have mental illnesses and abuse drugs such as Ritalin that may trigger negative, brain-altering effects, they are adding fuel to a flame. Combustion may occur at any moment.
Because Ritalin may be as addictive as other drugs, kicking a long-term habit may cause major withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms include insomnia, anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure), excessive sleeping, and fatigue, among others.
People who abuse Ritalin put themselves at high risk for organ damage and especially risk damaging the heart. The effects of such organ damage may suddenly manifest years later without any clear symptoms beforehand.
Signs of Ritalin Addiction
Because Ritalin resembles other drugs or even vitamins, users hide it in plain sight. It may be difficult to tell if a friend or loved one is already abusing the drug. Mental health experts have pinpointed specific signs that may determine if people are already witnessing Ritalin abuse right before their eyes.
If you suspect that a person is using Ritalin, you may want to determine if he or she is spending money on the drug. You may also want to see if this person is considering cutting down his or her dosage but is unable to do so.
It might be easy to spot Ritalin dependency if people are damaging their relationships. You may observe if people are unable to accomplish their tasks. This sign may be especially telling, since Ritalin is a substance designed to assist concentration and focus.
Ritalin abuse statistics
Cases of Ritalin abuse are common in part because the drug is so readily available. One study found that 4 percent of older teenagers and young adults in the United States misused study drugs. The 2013 Monitoring the Future survey found that 2.3 percent of U.S. twelfth graders used Ritalin without a prescription in the previous year.
Ritalin abuse is not a new problem. Another Monitoring the Future study found that from 1988 to 1999, the number of high school seniors who used the drug without a prescription spiked from .3 percent to 2.4 percent.
In a 1996 study conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the U.S. states of Indiana, Wisconsin, and South Carolina, up to 50 percent of adolescents admitted to drug rehabilitation facilities have used the drug for nonmedical purposes.
There is a bright side to these alarming statistics. The prevalence of Ritalin use has dropped gradually from 2001 to 2017. The number of survey respondents in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades who admitted that they have used Ritalin in the past year has slowly decreased through the years.
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Treatment for Ritalin Addiction
Approaches to Ritalin abuse treatment are similar to other forms of treatment for drug dependence and addiction. People generally begin the process by undergoing detoxification (detox) and then often attend an inpatient facility. They need proper care, attention, and guidance to help them realize that being hooked on a substance that some consider harmless could instead lead to dire repercussions.
The detoxification process for Ritalin depends on how often the drug was used, how people used it, and the amount that users consumed. Binging on the drug frequently for long periods of time may lead to greater dependence and more severe withdrawal symptoms, so treatment providers take steps to lessen such symptoms.
When people undergo detoxification (detox), they go through social detox or medically assisted detox. Professionals monitor clients during social detox but do not prescribe drugs for the process. Individuals receive drugs during medically assisted detox.
After a thorough assessment and screening, individuals seeking Ritalin addiction assistance at treatment facilities enter safe, caring environments that feature nutritious meals and space where they can rest. They will also be surrounded by people who are going through the same struggles as they are, which could help them adjust easier to their new lives and provide peer support.
People who have abused Ritalin with other substances will likely undergo medically assisted detox, detox procedures that use medications. This type of detox might also be more effective for people who are experiencing other mental and physical disorders.
If people are participating in medically assisted detox, they will receive inpatient or outpatient care, just like other individuals who are dealing with substance abuse. Inpatient stays may last for different amounts of time, generally starting at twenty-eight to thirty days. During this time, people often attend 12-step programs and participate in other types of treatment to guide them through recovery.
Outpatient care allows individuals to continue living at home, but often with supervision from professionals or loved ones. People in outpatient care frequently attend therapy sessions and peer meetings. The outpatient option is often the more affordable one, but it is recommended more for people who are suffering from more mild symptoms of addiction or for people who have a strong, reliable support system at home.
Choosing a Rehab Center for Ritalin Addiction
When searching for a suitable rehabilitation facility to address your Ritalin addiction, you need one that will care for your needs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and provide care even after you leave.
There are places that say they do, but the actual facilities and services offered do not. Some might not help people fully end their addictions, so they might relapse after spending a good amount of time and money at treatment facilities.
While Ritalin addiction treatment may last about a month, depending on the severity, it may be prolonged to sixty days, ninety days, or more. There are facilities that offer executive programs that allow patients to continue their professional lives while they undergo treatment.
Reliable and effective facilities should also offer access to programs that help people after the leave the centers. Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) after treatment might require clients to attend meetings and group therapy sessions. Some programs offer counseling sessions over the phone or online if clients are unable to personally attend such gatherings.
One major hurdle that people encounter when looking for a rehabilitation facility is cost. While rehab treatment might be expensive, checking into rehab facilities might provide the best option to finally end addictions.
Are you ready to begin your rehabilitation process and start a new life? Contact us and we will give you the information you need to treat your addiction to Ritalin.