Ritalin and Other Methylphenidates - The Law

The Law

Methylphenidate is a strictly regulated drug and is available only with a prescription. Its use is controlled by federal law. The U.S. Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 places all controlled drugs into one of five categories called schedules. These schedules are based on a substance's medical value, harmfulness, and potential for abuse and addiction. Schedule I is reserved for the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use.

Methylphenidates like Ritalin are categorized as Schedule II drugs with genuine medical uses that also have a high potential for abuse and addiction. This is the most restrictive category for medical drugs. The U.S. government requires special licenses for the manufacture and distribution of methylphenidate. Possessing methylphenidate without a medical doctor's prescription is against the law and can result in imprisonment and heavy fines.

Whether parents should be forced to put their children on ADHD medications is still highly debated. Various lawsuits have been filed to determine whether schools can insist that hard-to-handle children be medicated. Also, parents continue to fight for laws to protect their rights not to medicate their children.