Why are Scientologists opposed to the use of Ritalin?
Similar to what happened with Prozac, Ritalin was brought to the attention of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights by parents whose children had been victims of this mind-altering amphetamine-like drug, several of whom had committed suicide.
Ritalin is a psychiatric drug given to school-aged children who have been diagnosed as "hyperactive" -- a psychiatric label which according to their own published criteria, applies to almost any normally active child.
CCHR’s investigation found that Ritalin has a variety of dangerous side-effects. It causes children to become depressed, suicidal, violent and is highly addictive. Street junkies sometimes combine Ritalin with barbiturates and use the mixture as a cheap substitute for heroin.
So-called "hyperactive" children do not need to be drugged in order to handle the symptoms they manifest. Some experts have found that symptoms of "hyperactivity" are caused by food allergies and the problem can be solved by changing a child’s diet. In other cases this "disease" is imposed upon children who are simply energetic and bored.
Dangerous and addictive psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin destroy minds and are not the solution to creating successful and happy children.
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