Montreal, January 20, 1998 – The number of prescriptions for Ritalin has more than tripled in Quebec during the last five years, going from 47,922 in 1992 to 175,547 in 1997. This is what the weekly reveals Medical News in its edition of January 14, 1998.
These data come from IMS Canada, which compiled them at the request of a McGill University psychiatrist, Dr. Norman Hoffman. The latter made his request to IMS after noting a very significant increase in requests for prescription of Ritalin in his practice as a psychiatrist in the mental health service of the university.
Ritalin, the trade name for methylphenidate, is a drug primarily prescribed for children with ADHD. It is a mild stimulant of the central nervous system. Michel Legault, the journalist of Medical News, writes that “the mode of action of this drug is still unknown. It is believed to stimulate the brainstem as well as the cortex. ”
Dr Hoffman said he was troubled by the popularity of Ritalin with students and their use of it. Indeed, the doctor saw in consultation students who use Ritalin to stay awake and study and others who inhale or inject it. Dr Hoffman is concerned about this use because “this drug is associated with several side effects: depression, psychosis, etc.”
Quebec is not the only place affected by this phenomenon, as public health authorities in British Columbia and Saskatchewan have already reported a similar increase in the consumption of Ritalin. A comparative study between Quebec and Ontario also shows consumption curves following the same upward trend.
In the United States, the illicit use of Ritalin as a euphoric is a well-known phenomenon. Here too, the increase in prescriptions reached 250% between 1990 and 1995. The UN even expressed concern about the phenomenon in 1996 in a report on the global fight against narcotics.
One of the reasons for the sudden rise in popularity of Ritalin may be its use in combination with pentazocine (under the brand name Talwin), a pain reliever. Combined and injected, these two drugs produce a euphoria similar to that obtained from a mixture of heroin and cocaine. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), an American body responsible for combating drugs, the wide availability and low cost of these drugs have made them the heroine of the poor.
Safe when taken orally, Ritalin is dangerous when inhaled or injected, as several clinical studies have shown. This is because the talc in the tablet does not dissolve and may block the arteries, causing embolism or heart attacks. Irreparable damage to the lungs has also been reported.
Although the medical community is divided on the need to prescribe Ritalin to children and even though doctors admit not knowing whether the students for whom they prescribe the drug take it or if they resell it, others do not hesitate to prescribe it fluently. Another troubling element is that there are no universal guidelines on prescribing and follow-up criteria. According to Dr. Hoffman, “The increase in prescriptions is due to social rather than medical reasons.” According to another doctor, Dr Pierre Biron, specialist in pharmacovigilance, the hypothesis of abuse or misuse is the most interesting hypothesis to explain the increase in consumption of Ritalin.
HealthPassport.net
According to Medical News, January 14, 1998 edition