Reports in the UK suggest that almost 400,000 youngsters aged between 5 and 19 are being treated with Ritalin and similar drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, regardless of fears about the drugs' serious side-effects such as cardiovascular disorders, hallucinations and even suicidal thoughts.
The number of prescriptions for behavioural problems has risen by 156 per cent in the last six years and in the last five years the National Health Service (NHS) costs for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin has trebled despite concerns over the potential health risks.
Research suggests that thousands of children are needlessly being prescribed mind-altering powerful drugs for hyperactivity with some GPs prescribing Ritalin to children under a year old and in the last decade the number of school children prescribed anti-depressants such as Prozac has risen four times.
Those diagnosed with ADHD often display disruptive behaviour and have difficulty paying attention to specific tasks but official guidelines recommend drug treatment only for the most severely affected children.
But claims are being made that Ritalin and similar drugs are being prescribed to those with mild symptoms.
Diagnosing ADHD properly is a lengthy process and should involve accounts and reports from a range of sources such as schools as well as parents.
Critics say some GPs are prescribing the powerful drugs after brief consultations and this is a concern as at least nine deaths have been reported to the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency since Ritalin became available in the early 1990s.