So, you’re taking Ritalin.  If a doctor has prescribed it for you because you’ve been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, you’re not alone. Four million (4,000,000) young people have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, and many of them are taking Ritalin. It’s called the ‘miracle drug’ because it can really work miracles if you’re supposed to take it. For kids with attention deficit it has a calming effect, keeps you focused, and helps you concentrate. But Ritalin has just the opposite effect for users who haven’t been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.

When not given to you by a doctor or when you don’t use it specifically to correct a learning disability, Ritalin can be very dangerous. Nevertheless, you or someone you know may be using it as a stimulant to reduce appetite, reduce sleepiness, or to increase the chances of getting a cheap ‘high’.

If you’re in high school or college, and you’re illegally using Ritalin as a so-called recreational drug to get high or to keep you awake for an all-nighter so you can cram for a math exam, you’re not as smart as you think. Even a one-time use of the drug can cause hallucinations, make you paranoid, or have life threatening results.

On the street, it’s known as Vitamin R, R-ball, or ‘kid cocaine’ because crushing the pill and then snorting it can give you a fast rush. It can also kill you.

The bottom line about Ritalin is, if you’ve been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, and have a doctor’s prescription, USE IT. But, don’t abuse, give, or sell Ritalin or any other drug to a friend. Not if you value that friend’s life, or your own.