Does snorting ritalin cause permanent damage to your brain?
Question by Billy B: Does snorting ritalin cause permanent damage to your brain?
Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a drug prescribed for kids with adhd, although college students snort it all the time, especially now during finals week. So does snorting ritalin occasionally result in any permanent damage to your brain? Everyone says it’s bad to do it, but nobody has any actual proof. Support your answers with sources please
Best answer:
Answer by geckos1218
snorting anything is bad for you it can destroy your sinesis and then mess you up
Answer by Barcode
Schedule II drugs, such as Ritalin and Adderall, however, have a high propensity for misuse, abuse, and dependence. Widely prescribed for school-age children by medical professionals, many adolescents and young adults snort Ritalin and Adderall as they believe that they are safe alternatives to cocaine. This could not be further from the truth. First, both the potency of Ritalin and Adderall are increased when they are snorted or injected because they enter the bloodstream in a more concentrated manner compared to swallowing a pill. Second, prescription medications, especially when they are not prescribed for the user, as with illicit drugs, do not diminish their potential for harm. These actions make the misuse/abuses of these substances as or more harmful than cocaine, since the user may believe snorting Adderall and Ritalin is safe.
Dangerous side effects from inhaling Ritalin and Adderall include:
respiratory problems, such as destruction of the nasal and sinus cavities and lung tissue
irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia)
problems with circulation
psychotic episodes
increased aggression
toxic shock
death, in extreme cases
As Adderall is similar in its chemical makeup to methamphetamine, it poses additional dangers. Extended, continuous abuse can result in developmental problems concerning the brain and negative changes in brain wave activity. If someone misuses/abuses Ritalin, Adderall, or both, help is necessary to stop using, not only to prevent further harm, but also to keep the person safe during withdrawal. Once one has become addicted to these substances, stopping could cause withdrawal symptoms similar to those with cocaine, such as:
severe depression
psychosis
restlessness
extreme feelings of agitation
You may think that you are safer and more frugal by snorting Ritalin and Adderall, rather than cocaine, but you are harming yourself in similar ways. You also run the risk of arrest for having and using these substances without a prescription.
If you need assistance in stopping your use of Ritalin and Adderall, you can consult a health care provider to withdraw in a safe, controlled, and closely monitored manner. If you’re a student at Columbia, you can make an appointment with Counseling and Psychological Services at x4-2878 or Primary Care Medical Services (PCMS) at x4-2284. You can also log-in through Open Communicator to make an appointment with PCMS. For a listing of approved treatment centers, you can also contact the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University at 212.841.5200.
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