Abuse of ADHD Drugs
This animation shows the actions the stimulant Ritalin has on the brain, when used inappropriately by a healthy individual. This simulation hopes to address the growing concern of stimulants in schools. The message is illustrated by two sisters, (Ellen) who has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), and her sister Joan, who just wants to try Ritalin out of curiosity. The video illustrates how the focus center of the brain works and why it works differently for children with ADHD from those who do not have ADHD. Other concepts covered by the animation are how stimulants act on the focus center of the brain, how brain stimulants are absorbed in the body, and the type of side effects they can have when used improperly. The intended audience for this video is school aged children, especially middle school through high school kids. We recommend that the video be followed by a class discussion about proper medicinal use of Ritalin.
Created by: URI College of Pharmacy, Ian Weininger, Dr.Bongsup Cho, Roy Bergstrom, Dr. Kelly Matson, Dr. Jane Pawaskas, Sgt. John Carter, Robert Houghling