h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

...worried about us med-heds?

I probably ought to comfort you. However, I'm split on the whole Ritalin thing. I apparently had ADHD when I was five until I was nine or ten. I never received any medication for it, and now I'm fine.

Peter R. Breggin M.D. - Testimony (September 29, 2000) Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives.

'Hundreds of animal studies and human clinical trials leave no doubt about how the medication works.
'First, the drugs suppress all spontaneous behavior. In healthy chimpanzees and other animals, this can be measured with precision as a reduction in all spontaneous or self-generated activities. In animals and in humans, this is manifested in a reduction in the following behaviors: (1) exploration and curiosity; (2) socializing, and (3) playing.
'Second, the drugs increase obsessive-compulsive behaviors, including very limited, overly focused activities.
Table II provides a list of adverse stimulant effects which are commonly mistaken as improvement by clinicians, teachers, and parents.'

That's from a guy who is seriously against Ritalin. In our Psychology class, we saw a huge range of evidence, information and opinions about the drug, ranging from glowing praise, through thoughtful analysis, confused rambling and indifference all the way down to disparaging dismissal. Some people say it helps brilliantly, some think it has little significant effect and a few think it's incredibly unhelpful. So far as I can see, you should make your own judgements, but no one seems to think it changes who you /are/. Go figure!

- Jordan