would you give cocaine to children? Ritalin at 2.4 billion doses/year and growing

Medical use began in 1960; methylphenidate has become increasingly prescribed since the 1990s, when the diagnosisof ADHD became more widely accepted.^[4][5] Between 2007 and 2012, methylphenidate prescriptions increased by 50% in the United Kingdom and in 2013 global methylphenidate consumption increased to 2.4 billion doses, a 66% increase from the year before.  The United States continues to account for more than 80% of global consumption.^{[6][7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate
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Like cocaine, Ritalin is a powerful stimulant that increases alertness and productivity.  Ritalin and cocaine also look and act very much alike. They have a similar chemical structure, and both increase dopamine levels in the brain. They do this by blocking a dopamine transporter protein, which normally takes up dopamine from the synapse.

ADHD children are typically taken off of Ritalin when they reach adulthood.  Interestingly, these individuals seem to be more prone to cocaine addiction. Why is that?  Because Ritalin and cocaine are similar drugs,  it's possible that ADHD adults are unknowingly using cocaine as a replacement for Ritalin.  In other words, it may be an attempt to self-medicate. Cocaine may help individuals with ADHD focus and feel calm and in control.  http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/ritalin/

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Signs/Symptoms of Ritalin -methylphenidate

In today’s society, methylphenidate is the most common medication used to treat ADHD. Signs of its use and overuse include:

• Headaches
• Feelings of euphoria
• Nausea, vomiting
• Fainting
• Puzzlement
• Mood swings
• Blurriness in the eyes
• Dryness in the mouth
• Itching
• Rash
• Sweating
• Observant behavior
• Tourette’s syndrome

Effects of Ritalin

Serious effects of Ritalin abuse include:

• Heart complications
• Anemia
• Leukopenia
• Depression
• Toxic psychosis
• Seizures
• Fever
• Alterations in blood pressure
• Hallucinations
• Anxiety
• Formicaton (feeling of bugs under the skin)
• Tremors
• Addiction
• Psychotic incidents
• Change in heart rate
• Weight decrease
• Paranoia
• Sleeping complications
• Death                           https://casapalmera.com/blog/signs-and-effects-of-the-methylphenidate-a-drug-also-known-as-ritalin/