Ritalin is another prescription stimulant drug which is used for the medication of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and extreme sleepiness during the day or narcolepsy.
This drug has the chemical name of methylphenidate hydrochloride. Likewise, it is also being misused and abused by other people as a recreation and diet suppressant drug.
Like other stimulants, this drug is also known by other brand and street names. This drug is known by other brand names such as Ritalin-Sustained Release (SR).
Aside from that, it is also known by several street names in order to hide the real name of the drug when illegal distribution happens. Likewise, these street names vary on each location and other chemicals mixed with it. Some of its known street names are Smarties, Poor man’s cocaine, R-ball, Skittles, Kiddie Cocaine, Diet Coke, and more.
The drug’s active ingredient is a fine white powder which is placed in 5, 10, and 20 milligrams of this drug in the market. Identifying this medication is easy in any stores and pharmacies because of its pill identifier. These pill identifiers indicate the milligram, pill imprint, color and shape.
In terms of physical appearance, the 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg strength of this drug are sold in round tablet forms with pill imprints of CIBA 7, CIBA 3, and CIBA 34, respectively. Further, the colors of the three different tablets are yellow, green, and yellow, respectively.
Ritalin, How They Work
This drug similarly works like the dextroamphetamine where it induces an adrenaline rush in the mind and body of the person. The methylphenidate hydrochloride of this drug mixes in the blood after oral ingestion and then travels towards the brain.
Inside the brain, this drug prevents the reabsorption of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. The overall effect for the increased concentration of these brain chemicals is increased mental alertness and response to stimuli.
Norepinephrine is responsible for increasing blood pressure through the constriction of blood vessels. It also increases the sugar level in the blood. Meanwhile, dopamine is responsible for the quickness of the messaging system in the brain. Consequently, an increased concentration of dopamine means increased mental alertness.
Addiction and Dangers
This medication is considered dangerous because of its high addictive potential and detrimental effects on the health of the person. The addictive potential of this drug is comparable to cocaine with a difference in how quick-acting it is in the brain.
Cocaine’s addictive effect can be felt seconds after ingestion, snorting, or injection, while the effect of this drug can be felt hours after oral ingestion.
Typically, people abuse this drug through snorting, inhalation, and injection in the veins. Moreover, the euphoric effect of this substance is felt faster through snorting and injection.
The effects of this drug can be grouped into short and long-term effects. Some of the common short-term effects of this drug include headache, loss of appetite, agitation, difficulty sleeping, lightheadedness, and nausea. In contrast, its long-term effects are destroyed brain arteries, damaged optic nerves, cardiovascular diseases, and elevated blood pressure.
Furthermore, if addiction persists over time, the severe health consequences it delivers to the person are permanent brain damage, heart and lung failure.
Consequently, if the person wants to undergo a drug test, the idea of how long it stays in the body must be known. In the blood and hair follicles, residue of this drug can still be detected after twelve hours and ninety days, respectively, after the last ingestion. Whereas, in the urine and saliva, its presence can still be detected one to two days after the last ingestion.
Medications and Treatments
Early detection for an overdose with this drug is important to apply early first aid treatment and prevent further complications. To know if the person is suffering from an overdose, the following symptoms must be observed: uncontrolled body shaking, anxiety, panic attacks, short quick breaths, disorientation, and being hot-tempered.
Once these symptoms are observed, first aid treatment must be applied. First, do not allow the patient to harm oneself. Do not expose the patient from situations which might elevate one’s status of aggression. Second, one can allow the patient to flush out chemicals from the gut through stomach lavage. An alternative to stomach lavage is oral ingestion of activated charcoal. This substance has a high adsorptive capacity. Third, the patient can undergo blood dialysis to remove toxins from the blood.
After, one needs to apply the first step in any treatment program, that is detoxification. This process is the gradual or abrupt cessation from taking the drug. Alongside, this process leads to certain withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, frequent headaches, nausea, highly irritable, extreme mood shift, panic attacks and over fatigue.
Before a patient undergoes treatment, willingness to undergo the process and acceptance for the need of external help must be realized from the patient to ensure a quick recovery.
Aside from the medications to be prescribed, therapies are also incorporated in any treatment program. These therapies help in hastening the recovery process and correcting the negative behaviors of the patient.
The three common therapies adapted in treating this addiction include Recovery Group, Reward System, and Cognitive behavioral therapy. Each has its specific contribution to the full recovery of the patient.
In Recovery Groups, the patient becomes a member of an anonymous group where all share the same condition. The goal of this intervention is to enhance social communication skills and insight learning through the frequent meetings of sharing one’s experiences. Likewise, members also do community extension to exercise one’s social responsibility.
In the Reward System, the therapist sets rewards for every positive behavior and successful abstinence from the drug. The goal of this therapy is to reinforce positive behaviors through motivation using rewards.
Finally, Cognitive behavioral therapy is applied to the patient. The goal of this intervention is to determine the risk factors or negative thoughts which trigger the craving for the drug. Once determined, the therapist will guide the patient in formulating positive ways of coping with these risk factors. This needs constant practice in order to eliminate those unhealthy practices.
