What measures are being used to ensure that children do not become addicted to Ritalin.

The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA).The MCA has advised that Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride) was assessed for quality, safety and efficacy at the time of licensing. As with all medicines, the safety of Ritalin is continually monitored by the agency and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines. The authorised product information contains comprehensive information on the recognised side effects of treatment.There is the potential for abuse of Ritalin due to the nature of the drug. Ritalin has controlled drug status, which imposes restrictions on prescribing and handling. Caution is advised in patients who are emotionally unstable, such as those with a history of drug or alcohol abuse. The available clinical evidence indicates that treatment with Ritalin during childhood does not increase the likelihood of addiction in later life.The Committee on Safety of Medicines considered the issue of possible misuse of Ritalin in June 1999 and concluded that the product information contained adequate warnings and advice on prescribing.The clinical use of Ritalin for the treatment of Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2000-01 who recommended that treatment with methylphenidate should only be initiated by child and adolescent psychiatrists or paediatricians with expertise in ADHD and that children on methylphenidate therapy should receive regular monitoring. When improvement has occurred treatment should be discontinued at intervals under careful specialist supervision, in order to assess both the child's progress and the need for continuation of therapy.In deciding whether to prescribe Ritalin for the treatment of ADHD, clinicians would be expected to take account of advice and guidance about the drug including the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 52 on ADHD and the advice issued by NICE.