One day humanity will look back on this time and shake their heads about the way we medicated ourselves and our families. Ritalin is a powerful drug that has really helped some people. But too many people take this drug, and most could take better care of their brains by optimizing their nutrition. A quality long-chain omega 3 (fish oil) would be the best place to start.
from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090204193314.htm
A common treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, prescribed millions of times a year, may change the brain in the same ways that cocaine does, a new study in mice suggests. Research from Rockefeller University shows that methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, causes physical changes in neurons in reward regions of mouse brains. In some cases, the effects overlapped with those of cocaine...
