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I took Ritalin for several years as a kid. Hey, it was the 80's, we didn't know any better then. I went from being free-spirited and emotional to cold and calculating. I'm still cold and calculating today, because I learned that by embracing it, I could get ahead. I went from being a classic extrovert to being the exceptional-strong-INTJ I am now. Not that I'm complaining - I like who I am, and think most emotional extroverts are weak. The point is, though, that Ritalin makes permanent changes to the brain's functions - terrifying changes. Children go from being happy carefree fun machines to being criminal masterminds under the effects of the chemicals contained in that particular product. Several other people I grew up with that took it in larger doses for longer periods developed OCD tendencies later in life, a few were involved in some of the case studies on the drug. My sister did a paper on it in college using me as her inspiration. Her findings were downright frightening, to say the least.

Consequently, I had an employer who found out I used to be a Ritalin taker, and he decided he wanted me back on it to keep working for him. I told him to lay me off or I was calling the law. I found a new job the next week.