Francis Jensen, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania is a fantastic lady. She wrote The Teenage Brain , in 2015. A wonderful book for us laymen. Apparently MRI imaging has allowed for major advances in Brain Research without the need for invasive surgery.
Although not the intent of this book, she does make the observation that Ritalin is Addictive, as with all amphetamines and methylphenidate. I noticed that the Wikipedia Article takes the other side of the argument as follows:
“Meta-analyses and systematic reviews of magnetic resonance imaging studies suggest that long-term treatment with ADHD stimulants (specifically, amphetamine and methylphenidate) decreases abnormalities in brain structure and function found in subjects with ADHD.[18][19][20] Moreover, reviews of clinical stimulant research have established the safety and effectiveness of the long-term use of ADHD stimulants for individuals with ADHD.[21][22] In particular, the continuous treatment effectiveness and safety of both amphetamine and methylphenidate have been demonstrated in controlled drug trials with durations of several years;[22][23] however, the precise magnitude of improvements in ADHD symptoms and quality of life that are produced by methylphenidate treatment remains uncertain as of November 2015.[24]”
Gp: However, Jensen says the opposite:
“Adolescent addiction is particularly pernicious because over a long period of usage, the brain responds to the hyperactivity of dopamine by reducing dopamine receptors, and a loss of receptors means less stimulation. The result is called tolerance. The addict must take increasingly larger doses of the drug to obtain the same high he or she experienced the first time around. And with the reward pathways so hyper-sensitized to being stimulated, withdrawal also comes quickly and is more pronounced than in adults, leaving the teenage drug abuser susceptible to anxiety, irritability, and depression and therefore even more determined to get high again. “ The Teenage Brain: p. 167.
The Wikipedia Article is talking about controlled usage – under medical supervision. Note the clip ends with this sentence: “precise magnitude of improvements in ADHD symptoms and quality of life that are produced by methylphenidate treatment remains uncertain as of November 2015.[24]”
Francis Jensen is at the forefront of brain research and in her book summarizes much of the latest research into Brain physiology and functioning. She writes her book both as a Mother and as a Neurologist. She has written a very important book.
Although not directly related to the issue of Ritalin, her chapter on Alcohol use and abuse by Teenagers is both revealing and distressing. She writes:” More and more studies are turning up evidence of damage to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Attention deficit, depression, memory problems, and reduction in goal-directed behavior have all been linked to alcohol abuse in teens…Alcohol has been shown to affect the size and efficiency of the prefrontal cortex, the site of executive functioning, as well as the hippocampus, so vital to learning and memory. In fact, researchers have shown a direct correlation between hippocampal volume and the age of onset of alcohol abuse. The earlier the use – and the longer the abuse – the smaller the hippocampus. Alcohol blocks glutamate receptors that are key for building new synapses, and this explains why people who drink heavily have major memory problems.” P. 130
GP: There is a debate in educational and medical circles as to whether any psychiatric drugs should be administered to children regardless of the malady. The belief here is that the cure is worse than the maladay. Many expert educators and psychologists are against drugs for children, without qualification. The debate can be seen as determining the range of “normality” – and which child can be approached and dealt with in a drug-free environment. Doubtless there are situations where the child cannot be helped by any amount of parental and pscyhological attention and guidance. But the application of drugs today in such a widespread manner to children who could be classified as “normal” is unwarranted, as shown in the literature.