«Throughout these and other interviews,
Cruise spewed a number of irresponsible statements,
attempting to pass them off as facts. However, several of
Cruise’s statements are very easy to dispel as false.
With regard to the number of children
currently taking drugs to control ADHD, Cruise is quoted as
saying “[Psychiatrists] said, ‘Oh, you know, Ritalin is
safe. It’s safe. It’s safe.’ Ritalin is an amphetamine” (2).
The National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA) begs to differ. Ritalin (a stimulant, but not an amphetamine)
has been shown to amplify the release of dopamine and
thereby improve attention and focus in individuals who have
weak dopamine signals, such as those with ADHD (3).
NIDA goes on to note that ADHD patients do not become addicted to Ritalin
or similar medications when taken in the form and dosage
prescribed by doctors, and it has been reported that
individuals with ADHD who are treated with Ritalin are significantly less likely
than those who do not receive treatment to abuse drugs and alcohol when they are
older (4).»
