Ritalin
What are the street names/slang terms for it ?
Rits, Ritalin, Poor Man's Coke
What is it ?
Ritalin, is the trade name for methylphenidate, it 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 has a notably calming effect on hyperactive children and a 'focusing' effect on those
with ADHD. When taken as prescribed, Ritalin is a valuable medicine. Further, research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown that people with ADHD do not get addicted to their stimulant medications at treatment dosages. Because of its stimulant properties, however, in
recent years there have been reports of its abuse by people for whom it is not a medication. These prescription tablets can create powerful stimulant effects and serious health risks when crushed and then snorted like cocaine, or injected like heroin.
What does it look like ?
Ritalin comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, 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 for intravenous injection.
What are its short-term effects ?
Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant, similar to amphetamines in the nature and duration of its effects. It is believed that it works by activating the brain
stem arousal system and cortex. Pharmacologically, it works on the neurotransmitter dopamine, and in that respect resembles the stimulant characteristics of cocaine. Short-term effects can include nervousness and insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, palpitations,
headaches, changes in heart rate and blood pressure (usually elevation of both, but occasionally depression), skin rashes and itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, and digestive problems, toxic psychosis, psychotic episodes, drug dependence syndrome, and severe depression upon
withdrawal.
What are its long-term effects ?
High doses of stimulants produce a predictable set of symptoms that include loss of appetite (may cause serious malnutrition), tremors and muscle twitching, fevers, convulsions, and
headaches (may be severe), irregular heartbeat and respirations (may be profound and life threatening), anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks, and fornication (sensation of bugs or worms crawling under the
skin).
What can I do to reduce the risks ?
We recommend that first off you always use a clean fit for every hit, secondly we recommend that you use a red filter for every pill that you inject. The wheel filter will not reduce your
drugs potency but will take out a great deal of the chalk. Chalk is something that can cause your body permanent damage. Another way of reducing the risk of an infection would be to use sterile water every time you inject. Wheel filters and sterile waters are both easily obtained from you
local Needle Exchange or Level 2 Pharmacy based Exchange.
