Abstract: We studied the effects of
Ritalin on children with ADHD (Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder), and
we interviewed high school students with a history of using a prescribed
stimulant medication called Ritalin for treating ADHD. We also interviewed professionals and teachers
who have worked with students that have taken Ritalin for ADHD. We found that when children are diagnosed
with ADHD they lack information on ADHD and the medication they are taking,
Ritalin. The professionals have found
that the parents are informed but do not inform their children. Therefore, the children are neither informed
by the professionals nor their parents.
Our research
group (Kim Sánchez-Cawthorn, Lacy Sánchez, University of Denver and Janel
Rosales, University of Colorado, Denver) began with an idea to study the
affects of Ritalin on school-aged children in North Denver and to find out
individual opinions of the use of Ritalin for the treatment of ADHD. ADHD is Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder,
an irregularity in the brain that includes too little activity in the area of
the brain that inhibits impulses. Some
symptoms include: excessive talking, difficulty remaining in seat, work
performed carelessly, not listening or blurting out answers, etc. 74.5% of diagnosed children with ADHD were
treated by medication (Jensen, 1999).
The individuals that we interviewed ranged from students to
professionals, from mid-teens to adults.
They have either been diagnosed with ADHD or have experience with
ADHD. The interview process was designed
so that the people we interviewed would remain confidential. The individual names have been changed in
order to grant privacy and remain confidential.
We used questionnaires in order to make the interview process more
organized; they were given in person, or filled out and faxed back to us. Our goal is to gather this information and
inform both children and parents about the possible side effects and most
importantly, the child’s feelings about taking the medication and how it
affected them as a whole.
There are many
common side effects that Ritalin may have such as insomnia, decreased appetite,
headache, anxiety, dizziness, nausea and irritability. Many children are unaware of the reasons why
they are taking Ritalin and the side effects that result from this
medication. Ritalin, a stimulant, is a
pill that is taken two to three times a day, which generally begins to take
affect within 30-90 minutes. There is a
great lack of communication between the doctors or parents and children. Most doctors inform the child’s parents and
not the child themselves, this causes a great confusion for the child. We discovered that the children were told to
take the pill without any explanation of the side effects or diagnosis; perhaps
they were not properly informed because the adults thought the children would
not comprehend. The research consisted
of six individuals; all participants lived or worked in North Denver,
Colorado. Two of the participants were
high school students (one male and one female).
Both students were diagnosed with ADHD in their childhood. They were not currently on Ritalin, but were
prescribed it by a doctor in elementary school.
Four adult professionals (middle school social worker, youth volunteer
for a non-profit organization, doctor and a middle school nurse) were also
interviewed. Questions included: How did
you feel when you were taking the medication?
Do you sleep or eat more or less?
What information was provided for you regarding ADHD and Ritalin?
It is
extremely important that we, as a community, are aware of the information and
knowledge regarding ADHD and Ritalin. We
have discovered through our research that not only children with ADHD lack
knowledge about their disorder, but the parents also lack knowledge of Ritalin and
ADHD as well. Throughout this study
however, we encountered difficulties that resulted in very few
participants. Many parents refused to
participate and there was a lack of participants due to willingness, time and
schedules. Some candidates did not
return phone calls, others lacked interest or had tight schedules. For these reasons, we were unable to do a
statistical experiment, which resulted in a case study.
Case Study#1
(Social Worker)
Jan*,
a social worker at Denver Public Schools, feels that medication can only be
helpful if there is a correct diagnosis of ADHD. She finds that children who have taken
Ritalin have better concentration and a greater ability to focus. However, some side effects are personality
change, lack of sleep, and a decreased appetite. She reports that adolescents resist taking
medication. For example: a young girl
stocked her medication in her pocket instead of taking it. Jan could not provide much information
because the school nurse is normally the individual working with her
parents. She feels that parents are not
getting enough support from medical professionals and she believes that people
are quick to label children. She had
difficulty with parents willing to participate in this study.
Case Study#2 (Doctor)
Grace--a
doctor who deals with children with ADHD—believes that counseling should be
provided for those taking Ritalin with severe cases. She feels that Ritalin is not a quick fix,
for she has seen it do amazing things for the right person; Ritalin is not for
everyone. Stomach problems are some of
the side effects she has seen. Parents
and teachers should fill out a survey about their child’s behavior in order to
decide if the child should be put on Ritalin.
Case Study#3 (Youth Volunteer)
Ann has
been working in social work for 10 years.
She is not trained to diagnose or prescribe medication, but she likes to
use natural remedies. She believes that
people do not know their choices when it comes to helping children with
ADHD. She has found children as young as
six years old on Ritalin. She feels
there is no benefit from children taking Ritalin due to the side effects that
she has seen, such as: depression, sleepiness and a lack of enthusiasm.
Case Study#4 (School Nurse)
Lynn
has been a school nurse for 20 years and has been able to see 100% difference
in the before and after effect on children who have been taking Ritalin. She reports that their ability to stay
focused and academics have improved, however not all children should take
Ritalin. The side effects that she has
seen have been: appetite loss, drowsiness, weight loss and failure to grow.
Case Study#5 (Student)
Julie
felt that taking the medication Ritalin did not help her in any way. A doctor prescribed it for her when she was
in fifth grade. They gave her the
medication because they thought she was too “hyper”. The doctor wanted to see how it would work on
her but after a month she was taken off the medication because it was not
having an effect.
Case Study#6 (Student)
Mark
took Ritalin for 7 to 8 years and was taken off the medication at age 12. He reports that he felt like a zombie and he
slept more but his concentration did improve.
Mark was treated and diagnosed by a psychiatrist and a doctor. He also took behavior classes and had
counseling. Mark did research on Ritalin
and ADHD by himself because no one informed him on his condition. His parents tried alternatives such as
caffeine.
*NOTE: To protect confidentiality,
the names of participants have been changed.