RITALIN

It is Ritalin, the mild stimulant commonly prescribed for young children to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Authorities fear Ritalin is becoming increasingly popular as a recreational drug among teens and pre-teens. ``It's an area of concern,'' said Rogene Waite, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. ``It has the potential for abuse, so we would be looking at that and we'll continue to monitor it.'' Some psychiatrists point …

…were just as likely to mention methylphenidate as cocaine in a drug-related emergency room episode. Nearly 75 percent said they had been using the drug for psychic effects or recreation. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., the maker of Ritalin, said in a statement that millions of ADHD patients have been treated safely using the drug. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography** On the Net: Drug Enforcement Administration: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.nida.nih.gov