wbur.org
support wbur today!
Listen to this show
New Focus on ADHD Drugs
photo

By host Tom Ashbrook:

There was a heads-up moment last week in America’s march into the arms of Ritalin. An FDA advisory panel, by a narrow vote, recommended a “black box” warning on Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and the whole family of stimulants used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The risks: heart attack, stroke, and sudden death. Those most at risk: adult users.

Millions of kids are on Ritalin, but it’s adult use that has exploded lately. Some use it for adult ADHD. Others use it just to focus and lose weight. Performance-enhancing Ritalin use is on Desperate Housewives, and it may be in your house.

Hear about adult ADHD, and the surge in grown-ups on Ritalin.

Guests:

Catherine Richart, associate editor of “FDA Week”

Dr. Edward Hallowell, psychiatrist and author of “Driven to Distraction”

Dr. Carl Tisher, psychologist and professor at Ohio State University

Belinda Luscombe, correspondent Time magazine

 
 
Listener comments
  • As a mental health practitioner I have worked with a number of children having ADHD, as well as on the homefront, two of my own children have ADHD. What is uncanny is that it is a constant struggle for these children to stay on the medication and people are seeking the stimulants for enhancement? Yes, it is heredity and my wife does not have ADHD. Stimulants have improved the lives of so many and it woudl be a shame to scare people away from something that could provide so much relief. I agree with Dr. Hallowell in saying that inappropriate use does not constitute labeling this medication as dangerous. Let’s see the data before pontificating further on this subject.

    Posted by John J. Acker, LICSW, on January 28th, 2009 at 6:34 pm EST
Recent Shows
The Future of Aging
Thursday, November 5, 2009 image

A surge of new strategies to “manage” aging — from diets to testosterone. We’ll get the story.

Comments [31]
 
Climate, Congress & Copenhagen
Thursday, November 5, 2009 image

The Copenhagen climate conference is one month away. US climate action is going nowhere in Congress. We’ll look at the global implications of America’s domestic climate politics.

Comments [73]
On Point Blog
California, here we come! And we need your questions!

On Point is headed west!
No, no. Not for good. Only for one show. But it’s a very special show!  The NPR station in Thousand Oaks, California – KCLU – is celebrating their 15th anniversary. We’re lucky to have been on their airwaves for nearly seven years, and they invited us out west to host a live [...]

More » | Comments [9]
 
For Love of Science – or Money?

A new study supports the idea that U.S. dominance in engineering and science is threatened — but not for lack of training and education. It has more to do with a lack of social and economic incentives.

More » | Comments [5]
 
Matthew Hoh’s Resignation Letter

Matthew Hoh, a former Marine captain, became the first foreign service official to publicly resign in protest over the war in Afghanistan. The move has generated a lot of reaction. You can read Hoh’s resignation letter, posted by The Washington Post, which reported on it here.
It’s a topic for our news roundtable today. What [...]

More » | Comments [4]