Ritalin Maker and American
Psychiatric Association Sued for Conspiracy
Lawsuits, filed in federal courts in New Jersey and
California allege that Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the
manufacturer of Ritalin, and the American Psychiatric Association,
conspired to create a market for Ritalin and expand its use. Stories
appearing in the September
14, 2000 issue of the "New York Times" and the Sept 15 "On
Health with Web MD", both report on these class action suits.
Over the past decade prescriptions for Ritalin have
skyrocketed as have the diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder). This has prompted controversy related to the correctness
of the increase in diagnosis, the over prescribing of the medication, or
the unstudied effects on children of long term use of this psychotropic
drug.
One of the lawyers involved in the Ritalin lawsuits,
John Coale of Washington DC, said the litigation was brought because
Novartis and the psychiatric group expanded the market for the drug by
promoting the idea that many children had attention deficit order and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He stated, "They
were giving this stuff away like candy,"
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