As a drug, Ritalin is supposed to calm people down. But it excites senior Jolene Styck - at least in terms of its research possibilities.
"I'm interested in Ritalin," said Styck. "I think it's over prescribed."
Styck started an experiment on Feb. 12, as part of her advanced biology class, taught by Linda deKort. She began testing the effects of Ritalin, a drug prescribed to people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder(ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD), by giving hamsters a daily dose of 2.5 milligrams.
"The hamsters will be hyperactive," hypothesized Styck. "They don't have the chemical necessary in the brain to balance out the Ritalin like ADD patients do."
"It is a very ambitious and brave experiment," said deKort. "It takes a lot of researching, and Jolene is doing that. She even talked to the originators of the drug."
The hamster's initial doses of Ritalin will start at 2.5 milligrams, but will be moved up to 5 milligrams in one or two weeks.
"I want to prove that it is not always best to prescribe Ritalin," said Styck. "It can have negative effects if you don't have a chemical imbalance."
The hamsters are given their doses during school but are monitored every night at Styck's home.
"I'm not sure what side effects the hamsters will have from the drug," said Styck.
The amount of Ritalin prescribed around the world has increased 500 percent since 1990 - 36 percent just last year - to $373 million. Ninety percent of the annual gross produced, approximately 8.5 tons, goes to the United States.
"Ritalin is a good medicine if it is monitored, used and prescribed correctly," says Whitefish psychiatrist Michael Newman.
After Styck's experiment is complete, she plans to write a report to submit to those interested in the drug and research. Local veterinarian Arthur Otto has already requested the report after her findings are written.
Said Styck: "I hope to see more of the effects that Ritalin has on people, and to show that it can be harmful to the person if it's over prescribed."