diagnosis of ADHD

ritalin use for ADHD has been the focus of controversy

Because ritalin is the most frequently prescribed stimulant drug for ADHD and ADD children, it has been the focus of much of the controversy about stimulant drugs. This controversy has included media coverage and class action lawsuits against  Novaris, the manufacturer.

Ritalin "works" on children in the same way that related stimulants  like Cocaine work on adults — sharpening the short-term attention span when the drug kicks in and producing equally predictable valleys ("coming down," in street parlance; "rebounding," in Ritalinese) when the effect wears off. It is often referred to as "Kiddie Cocaine."

Just as predictably, children are subject to the same adverse effects as adults imbibing such drugs, with the two most common being appetite suppression and insomnia. Other side effects are reduced stature, ticks, "zombie" demeanor, stomach aches, moodiness and function Long-term use  has also been linked to abnormalities in brain development similar to those found with Cocaine. In one recent study, 9% of children taking Ritalin developed psychotic symptoms.