Over half a million children in the United States are estimated to be currently taking the drug Ritalin for hyperactivity. While many experts claim the drug helps children succeed in school by calming them down and reducing their distractibility, there are growing concerns that the disadvantages of using Ritalin may far outweigh its advantages in most cases.
Side effects of the drug can include loss of appetite, serious weight loss, insomnia, headaches, stomach aches, dizziness, and serious psychological problems such as depression.
Moreover, drug use reinforces the belief in many children that an external force, a pill, is necessary to calm them down.
Parents should always explore other alternatives before subjecting their children to treatment with Ritalin or other psychoactive drugs. These alternatives include dietary changes, family therapy and individual counseling, changes in the method of teaching at school, and relaxation and stress reduction techniques.
Programmed and Hosted by ParentsPlace.com,