Ritalin

Street names/slang terms:
Kibbles and bits, speed, west coast, vitamin R, r-ball, smart drug

Drug Type:
Ritalin, the trade name for methylphenidate, is a medication prescribed for children with an abnormally high level of activity or with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is also occasionally prescribed for treating narcolepsy. It stimulates the central nervous system, with effects similar to but less potent than amphetamines and more potent than caffeine. Ritalin is a stimulant. It increases the amount of circulating brain chemicals that raise blood pressure and heart rate, speed up breating, decrease appetite and deprive the user of sleep.

What does it look like?
Ritalin is in pill or tablet form.

How is it used?
Many non-medical users crush the tablets and either snort the resulting powder, or dissolve it in water and "cook" it for intravenous injection.

Why is it abused?

Users feel alert, focused and fully of energy. It is abused by students who think it will help them manage stressful schoolwork or "pull an all-nighter."

Short-term Effects:
• insomnia
• loss of appetite, weight loss
• nausea, vomiting
• dizziness, nervousness
• heart palpitations
• headache
• muscle twitching, tremors
• changes in heart rate, blood pressure
• skin rashes, itching
• abdominal pain
• digestive problems
• toxic psychosis, psychotic episodes
• drug dependence syndrome
• severe depression upon withdrawal

• Ritalin can be addictive

• high doses taken over a short period of time can lead to feeling of hostility, intense fear and paranoia.

• high doses may result in dangerously high body temperature and irregular heartbeat, with possible cardiovascular
  failure or seizures.

• may cause insomnia, digestive problems and erratic weight change.

Long-term Effects:
• malnutrition due to loss of appetite
• tremors, muscle twitching, convulsions
• fevers
• headache
• irregular heartbeat, respirations
• anxiety, paranoia
• restlessness
• hallucinations, delusions
• excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks
• sensation of bugs or worms crawling under skin (formication)

Source: Partnership for a Drug-Free America, NIDA, IRPC