IMPORTANT NEWS & CRUCIAL INFORMATION

Although the drug known as RITALIN (methylphenanidate hydrochloride) has been around since the 50s, its use as a way of treating ADHD has surged tremendously in the last few years. For instance,in the US, in 1996 alone, over 10 MILLIONS prescriptions were issued for RITALIN as a way to treat ADHD. Between 1991 and 1999 the US domestic sale of RITALIN increased by nearly 500% ! In contrast, very few parents that are considering putting their child on Ritalin, or worse being pressured into it, are aware that it is ILLEGAL to give Ritalin to a child under the age of 18 in Europe. One must wonder why the European medical establishment feels so strongly about its use with children as to make it illegal.

In 2005, the University of Texas conducted a study (El-Zein et al., 2005) aimed at investigating the potential health risks associated with such a dramatic increase in the use of RITALIN in the US population, especially among children 17 and under. Their conclusion, in layman's terms, was that even after only 100 doses, or about 3 months of treatment, every single participants (100%) that concluded the study, or 12 children, experienced chromosomal abberations or damage, a condition which could increase the risk of cancer!

These results also raise the question as to the safety of all the other methamphetamine medications that are commonly used for treating children with ADD and ADHD. It is quite obvious that more extensive studies are urgently needed.

An abstract of this study can be viewed for free (registration required) at: CancerLetters. The full text of the study can also be purchased from the publisher for $25. You will need to register, for free, before having access to both the abstract, or the full article. Once you have registered, login in and search for the title of the study:

Cytogenetic effects in children treated with methylphenidate

The abstract will be visible right away, and the option to purchase the full article will be available to you.

Brain Optimization Institute keeps its purchased copy of the full article available for review in our facilities. Please feel free to stop by at your convenience.