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There have been many significant advances in pharmacology over the last century. These advances include the discovery of penicillin in 1928 by Alexander Fleming (Ross, 2005), the synthesis of the methylphenidate in the 1940's (Royal College of Psychologists) and the creation of the first antidepressants in the 1950's (Trujillo and Chinn 1996). These advances in medicinal treatment have brought immeasurable benefits to the human race through the effective treatment of previously deadly infections and through the restoration of the emotional lives and psychological stability of millions of others.

However, this golden panacea of pharmacology that has so blessed us so much may have unintended consequences for our future generations. The number of prescriptions written for these classes of medication has been increasing rapidly over the last two decades (Smaglik 1997) (Woodworth 2000) and many experts are starting to question whether we are over-prescribing medication for our children and the long term impact of these medications.

The fastest growing class of pediatric prescription medication is the psychotherapeutic drugs which are classified as stimulants. The most used drug of this class goes by the generic name of Methylphenidate, though most of us are more familiar with one of its brand names, Ritalin. Methylphenidate was first synthesized in the 1940's, though the first brand-name pharmaceutical was not available until Ritalin hit the market in the 1960's (Royal College of Psychologists). Methylphenidate is now marketed under both its generic name as well as brand names Concerta and Methylin.

In 1990, the United States produced approximately 2000 kilograms of Methylphenidate. By 1995, this production and quintupled to over 10,000 kilograms, and by 2001, nearly 18,000 kilograms were produced (Woodworth 2000). Over this same time span, the number of annual doses of Methylphenidate consumed climbed from 50 million doses to over 450 million doses worldwide. The United States alone accounted for over 350 million doses of this medicine (Woodworth 2000).

Approximately 80% of all Methylphenidate prescriptions (and other Amphetamines) are prescribed for treatment of Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A national survey conducted by IMS Health (a national prescription auditing firm) determined that 40% of all prescriptions for ADHD written were for children between the ages of three and nine, and over 4,000 prescriptions for Methylphenidate were written

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