An Educational Perspective Based on Information Contained In The Indiana Prevention Resource Center Factline on Ritalin ®.

By the end of this presentation: you will have… (1) Been exposed to general information about Ritalin ®. (2) Learned some basic facts about non-prescription Ritalin ® users in Indiana. (3) Viewed the potential consequences of Ritalin ® use, both short-term and long-term. (4) Learned about prevention efforts in Indiana. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Ritalin ®, methylphenidate, is a stimulant which enhances brain activity and increases alertness and energy. The drug is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy. Indiana Prevention Resource Center When used by individuals without the aforementioned conditions, Ritalin ® creates a stimulant-like by increasing focus and attentiveness. This makes it an attractive drug of abuse among teenagers.

Ritalin® is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in 5, 10, and 20 milligram tablets, and in sustained release form (SR) tablets. Indiana Prevention Resource Center Ritalin® appears in pill or tablet form. However, several companies produce Methylphenidate (Ritalin’s active ingredient); therefore, tablets vary in appearance depending on the dosage and manufacturer. The pharmaceutical name for Methylphenidate is Ritalin® or Concerta®.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, teenagers of middle- and upper-class socioeconomic status are most likely to abuse the drug. Data collected during The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse report the percentage of 12 to 17 year olds who reported using stimulants once in their lifetime was 4% in 2000.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center - Survey measures indicate a decline in Ritalin ® use among youth between 2001 and Source: Indiana Prevention Resource Center, 2005.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Acquiring Ritalin ® is not difficult: - Ritalin is prescribed for the treatment of ADD/ADHD to an estimated 1 million adults and 2 to 4 million children. - Teens may acquire the drug from peers, friends, or family members who have legal prescriptions. - In some cases, non-prescription users might steal the drug from family members or medical dispensaries. - The cost for illicit purchase of the drug can range from 2 to 20 dollars for a 20 mg tablet.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center The non-medical use of Ritalin® may cause the following stimulant-like symptoms: restlessness dizziness tremors euphoria severe headache difficulty coordinating musculoskeletal movements -Ritalin ® May also cause: increased temperature, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, hostility and feelings of paranoia. When taken at a higher dose than recommended, Ritalin ® has a high potential for drug abuse and compulsive behavior.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Prevention of non-prescription Ritalin ® use can be accomplished by the following: 1)medication supplies should be kept secure in a locked room, drawer or cabinet; 2) adults should not allow adolescent patients to self- administer ADHD/ADD medication without suitable adult supervision;

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Prevention of non-prescription Ritalin ® use can be accomplished by the following: 3) children should be prohibited from carrying ADHD/ADD medication to or from school. A parent or guardian should deliver and remove the medication from school; and 4) ADHD/ADD medication should be provided in properly labeled containers that identify the name of the medication, the prescribed dosage and the frequency of administration.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Prevention of non-prescription Ritalin ® use can be accomplished by the following: 5) For parents and guardians, an additional tip is to pay attention to the amount of medication left over in a prescription bottle. This is crucial to discovering patients who sell their medication. For instance, a patient may leave home with a full bottle of medication and return home with only a small amount left.

Use without a prescription in Indiana is a violation of Indiana Code IC (possession of a controlled substance) and is a Class D felony. Indiana Prevention Resource Center Illegal possession on a school bus or school property is a Class C felony in Indiana.

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents; Data from The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute The National Institute on Drug Abuse Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Bilesha Perera, Ph.D, MS in 2005 and © The Indiana Prevention Resource Center. Contact us Indiana Prevention Resource Center 2735 East 10th Street, CA110 Bloomington, IN Phone: or Fax: The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Indiana University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. It is affiliated with the Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University. Indiana Prevention Resource Center