A children’s research organisation has said that the use of drugs such as Ritalin to treat children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has no long-term health benefits. The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute say that early research shows that Ritalin is ineffective at helping children academically and mentally as they get older. They followed 178 children suffering from ADHD and 212 children without ADHD for three years to identify what factors effect the development of children suffering with the disorder. Their findings found that children taking Ritalin to treat the condition suffered from severe academic, and mental health problems. Smh.com.au reports: By the age of seven there are severe academic, social and mental health differences between children with ADHD and their peers, the Children’s Attention Project, which is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, found. Three years on, these disparities persist, preliminary findings suggest. Four times as many 10-year-olds with ADHD suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety and oppositional disorder. They are also well behind their peers in their maths and reading abilities. There was no difference in outcomes between boys and girls. “All of them continue to be substantially at risk of [...]